St. Paul in Prison

This is one of Rembrandt's earliest known panels, made in the year that he turned 21. It shows the apostle St. Paul in prison, lost in thought. Obviously the harsh conditions in jail did not stop him from trying to achieve his mission. The pen in his left hand suggests that he was writing one of his many letters.

Paul is depicted in traditional manner: long beard, bald head, and with his distinctive attribute: the sword, quite remarkable given the context. The sword refers to his martyrdom.