Saint Paul the Apostle

Govaert Flinck's Saint Paul the Apostle depicts the great Christian missionary and theologian in a contemplative pose. Flinck was one of Rembrandt's most talented pupils and later one of Amsterdam's most successful painters, receiving the prestigious commission for the decoration of the new Town Hall. His religious paintings combine the dramatic lighting learned from Rembrandt with a more refined, classicizing figure style.

Flinck's oil-on-canvas technique demonstrates his synthesis of Rembrandtesque chiaroscuro with a smoother, more polished surface than his master typically employed. The warm palette and concentrated lighting on the apostle's face reflect his thorough absorption of Rembrandt's approach to sacred subjects.