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Description

Spanish school; ca. 1600. "Saint Bartholomew". Oil on panel. Engatillada. It has repainting and restorations. The panel is open in the central area. Measurements: 120 x 65.5 cm. Inscribed in a semicircular arch, whose upper area is crowned by two little cherub heads, each on one side, the imposing figure of a saint can be seen. After the theatricalisation of the subject provided by the arch, the artist has placed a black background, thus giving great prominence to the central figure. An elderly man, as can be deduced from the white beard, is seated despite the fact that his figure occupies almost the entire surface of the work. The old man, who wears a tunic and cloak, holds a sword in one hand and a book in the other, which he rests on his leg. In this hand, a large chain can also be seen hanging from his wrist to the ground. The aforementioned attributes, together with the nimbus of sanctity and, of course, the name that crowns the image of the saint, refer directly to Saint Bartholomew. Bartholomew was one of Jesus' apostles, and is mentioned in the Gospels always in the company of Philip. According to John, in whose Gospel he appears under the name of Nathanael, he was one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection. According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was also a witness to Jesus' ascension. The tradition recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea recounts that Bartholomew went to preach the Gospel in India, where he left a copy of Matthew's Gospel in Aramaic. Armenian tradition also attributes to him the preaching of Christianity in the Caucasus country, together with Saint Jude Thaddeus, and both are considered patron saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Their martyrdom and death are attributed to Astiages, king of Armenia and brother of King Polymius, whom the saint had converted to Christianity. When the priests of the pagan temples, who were running out of followers, protested to Astiages about Bartholomew's evangelising work, the ruler sent for him and ordered him to worship their idols, just as he had done with his brother. When the saint refused, the king ordered him to be flayed alive in his presence until he renounced God or died. The image of Saint Bartholomew has undergone few modifications throughout the history of art, and it is common to depict the saint at the moment of martyrdom. Thus, he is usually depicted being flayed, either on a rack or tied to a tree. He has also been depicted working miracles: resurrecting the sons of King Polymius and freeing his daughter, who was possessed by the devil. On rare occasions he is depicted being scourged. He is sometimes depicted with a large knife, alluding to his martyrdom, according to which he was flayed alive, which is why he is the patron saint of tanners. In connection with his martyrdom, he is also sometimes depicted skinned, his skin being held on his arm as if it were a piece of clothing.

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Spanish school; ca. 1600. "Saint Bartholomew". Oil on panel. Engatillada. It has repainting and restorations. The panel is open in the central area. Measurements: 120 x 65.5 cm. Inscribed in a semicircular arch, whose upper area is crowned by two little cherub heads, each on one side, the imposing figure of a saint can be seen. After the theatricalisation of the subject provided by the arch, the artist has placed a black background, thus giving great prominence to the central figure. An elderly man, as can be deduced from the white beard, is seated despite the fact that his figure occupies almost the entire surface of the work. The old man, who wears a tunic and cloak, holds a sword in one hand and a book in the other, which he rests on his leg. In this hand, a large chain can also be seen hanging from his wrist to the ground. The aforementioned attributes, together with the nimbus of sanctity and, of course, the name that crowns the image of the saint, refer directly to Saint Bartholomew. Bartholomew was one of Jesus' apostles, and is mentioned in the Gospels always in the company of Philip. According to John, in whose Gospel he appears under the name of Nathanael, he was one of the disciples to whom Jesus appeared at the Sea of Tiberias after his resurrection. According to the Acts of the Apostles, he was also a witness to Jesus' ascension. The tradition recorded by Eusebius of Caesarea recounts that Bartholomew went to preach the Gospel in India, where he left a copy of Matthew's Gospel in Aramaic. Armenian tradition also attributes to him the preaching of Christianity in the Caucasus country, together with Saint Jude Thaddeus, and both are considered patron saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Their martyrdom and death are attributed to Astiages, king of Armenia and brother of King Polymius, whom the saint had converted to Christianity. When the priests of the pagan temples, who were running out of followers, protested to Astiages about Bartholomew's evangelising work, the ruler sent for him and ordered him to worship their idols, just as he had done with his brother. When the saint refused, the king ordered him to be flayed alive in his presence until he renounced God or died. The image of Saint Bartholomew has undergone few modifications throughout the history of art, and it is common to depict the saint at the moment of martyrdom. Thus, he is usually depicted being flayed, either on a rack or tied to a tree. He has also been depicted working miracles: resurrecting the sons of King Polymius and freeing his daughter, who was possessed by the devil. On rare occasions he is depicted being scourged. He is sometimes depicted with a large knife, alluding to his martyrdom, according to which he was flayed alive, which is why he is the patron saint of tanners. In connection with his martyrdom, he is also sometimes depicted skinned, his skin being held on his arm as if it were a piece of clothing.

Estimate 2 000 - 2 500 EUR
Starting price 2 000 EUR

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