ARTWORKS

An Elderly Man as Saint Paul

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669)

The National Gallery, London

An Elderly Man as Saint Paul

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Order a print

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

Rembrandt’s pensive Saint Paul belongs to a series of half-length pictures of religious figures that the artist painted in the late 1650s and early 1660s. The dark picture is devoid of unnecessary details, but the saint’s traditional attributes are just about visible: an open book sits on the table in front of him and a sword leans on the wall behind him.A roundel in the upper left depicts an angel interrupting Abraham, who is about to sacrifice his son Isaac on God's order. This important Old Testament episode was favoured by Rembrandt, who painted and etched it before including it here. For Saint Paul, the sacrifice was an example of faith in God. In Protestant theology, Saint Paul was considered the most authoritative interpreter of the Gospel -- a possible reason for Rembrandt's fascination with the apostle.

The National Gallery, London

London

Read more on The National Gallery, London
Title

An Elderly Man as Saint Paul

Date

probably 1659

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 102 x W 85.5 cm

Accession number

NG243

Acquisition method

Bequeathed by Lord Colborne, 1854

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

Learn more Tag this
Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

View venue

Artist or maker

Rembrandt van Rijn

1606–1669

View profile
  • Self Portrait with Two Circles
    Self Portrait with Two Circles English Heritage, Kenwood
  • Self Portrait
    Self Portrait The Burrell Collection
  • A Man in Armour
    A Man in Armour Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
  • Jean Pellicorne with His Son Caspar
    Jean Pellicorne with His Son Caspar The Wallace Collection
  • Self Portrait in a Black Cap
    Self Portrait in a Black Cap The Wallace Collection
  • The Good Samaritan
    The Good Samaritan The Wallace Collection
  • Titus, the Artist's Son
    Titus, the Artist's Son The Wallace Collection
  • 118 more

Topics

Stories