Der Heilige Paulus lesend, Halbfigur c. 1670s

This is Matthys van den Bergh's sketch of Saint Paul reading, created sometime before 1687. Van den Bergh was working in the Baroque style amidst the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense cultural and economic growth in the Netherlands, deeply shaped by the Protestant Reformation and its emphasis on personal interpretation of scripture. This sketch provides an intimate look into the act of reading as a deeply personal and transformative experience. Paul, a central figure in the spread of Christianity, is depicted not in a moment of triumphant preaching, but in quiet contemplation. The sketched lines suggest a figure caught in thought, his engagement with the text seems to transcend the literal, hinting at an emotional connection. We are invited to witness a moment of intense, internal dialogue. The choice to portray Paul in such a humble, thoughtful manner resonates with the Protestant emphasis on individual faith and challenges the more performative aspects of religious authority. Van den Bergh captures not just an image of a saint, but a profound, reflective moment of human connection with the written word.