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Notes
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Saint Paul, who is dressed in a red cloak, directs the men in the foreground to burn a pile of books that represent the pagan tradition. He has travelled to the city of Ephesus (now part of Turkey) to encourage the Jews and Greeks to convert to Christianity, and his success is shown by the figures praying and confessing. This subject relates to an episode in the Acts of Apostles, written by Saint Luke, who accompanied Paul on his missions. This is a preliminary sketch for a much larger version of this subject given to the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris by the city’s goldsmiths in 1649. Every year the goldsmiths commissioned a painting measuring four metres high, which was placed at the entrance of the building so it could be seen by those passing by.
Title
Saint Paul preaching at Ephesus
Date
1649
Medium
Oil on canvas
Measurements
H 100.8 x W 84.8 cm
Accession number
NG6299
Acquisition method
Bought, 1959
Work type
Painting
The National Gallery, London
Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England
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