Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 1606 – 1669

The apostle Paul (1659)

oil on canvas (102 × 86 cm) — 1659 The National Gallery, London

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn biography

This work is linked to Hebrews 11:17

The official name of this portrait is "An Elderly Man as Saint Paul". Paul is identified by the book and his usual attribute, the sword.

In the top left corner is a roundel with Abraham sacrificing Isaac. (It's barely visible, the painting could probably use some cleaning.) In chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews, commonly attributed to Paul, that sacrifice is mentioned in chapter 11.

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