Saint Paul c. 1619

Diego Velázquez rendered Saint Paul in oil paint, sometime in the 17th century. The Apostle Paul was an important figure of the early church; here, he is pictured holding a book, an allusion to his authorship of a large portion of the New Testament. Velázquez was a court painter in Spain. Painting images of saints was part of a visual culture of religious observance sponsored by both church and state. Spain at this time saw itself as a defender of the Catholic faith, so art was used as a tool for instruction and inspiration. Yet Velazquez's image differs markedly from typical depictions of the saint. Rather than idealizing Paul, Velázquez depicts him with a realism that some scholars have seen as bordering on the vulgar. To understand the image better, we might consider the role of religion in 17th century Spain, and the place of art in the promotion of certain religious ideas.