Saint John the Evangelist 

Tobias Verhaecht painted Saint John the Evangelist in the late 16th or early 17th century. Verhaecht lived and worked in Antwerp, then part of the Spanish Netherlands, and he was Dean of the Guild of Saint Luke. The Guild was more than just a professional association for artists; it also controlled the art market, setting standards for training and sales. In this context, paintings of religious figures like Saint John weren't just personal expressions, they were affirmations of the Church and the Guild's authority. The image of John with his eagle and the vision of the Virgin Mary was immediately recognizable to viewers, reinforcing Catholic doctrine at a time when Protestantism was gaining ground. To understand this painting fully, we can look at the records of the Guild, religious texts, and social histories of the period. Art history helps us see how images like this played a part in the cultural and political landscape of their time.