Peter Paul Rubens, 'The Miraculous Draught of Fishes', 1618-19
About the work
Overview
According to the Gospel of Luke (5: 1–11), Christ one day approached two fishing boats on the Sea of Galilee. After boarding one and preaching from it, he told the fishermen to cast their nets. Although they had worked all night and caught nothing, the fisherman agreed; when they hauled the nets back in, they were near breaking from the bountiful catch. Astounded by this miracle, the fishermen became disciples of Christ.
The composition of this sketch is based on the central panel of a triptych made by Rubens for Notre Dame au delà de la Dyle, the church of the Mechelen Fishmongers’ Guild. The sketch was used as the basis for an engraving by Schelte à Bolswert, who worked for Rubens in Antwerp.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- The Miraculous Draught of Fishes
- Artist
- Peter Paul Rubens
- Artist dates
- 1577 - 1640
- Date made
- 1618-19
- Medium and support
- black chalk and oil on paper, mounted on canvas
- Dimensions
- 55 × 85 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1861
- Inventory number
- NG680
- Location
- Room 18
- Collection
- Main Collection
- Frame
- 17th-century Flemish Frame
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Gregory Martin, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School: circa 1600–circa 1900’, London 1986; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
-
1986Martin, Gregory, National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School, circa 1600 - circa 1900, London 1986
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
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