Portret van Sint Paul van Thebe

About this artwork

Portret van Sint Paul van Thebe uit een serie portretten in Historie der Kerken en ketteren van den beginne des Nieuwen Testaments tot aan het jaar onses Heeren 1688 van Godfried Arnold (1701).

Art Historical Context

Behold *Portret van Sint Paul van The* (1701), a finely etched portrait by the Dutch Baroque artist Romeyn de Hooghe. This intimate work, measuring 270mm by 160mm, captures revered Saint Paul of Thebes, the legendary 3rd-century Egyptian hermit often hailed as the first Christian monk. De Hooghe, a master printmaker known for his dynamic illustrations and satirical flair, renders the saint with expressive lines that convey quiet devotion and ascetic wisdom. Created as part of a portrait series for Godfried Arnold's monumental *Historie der Kerken en ketteren*—a sweeping 1701 history of churches and heresies from the New Testament to 1688—this etching reflects the era's fascination with ecclesiastical figures amid debates over orthodoxy and dissent. Arnold's text, sympathetic to marginalized believers, positions Paul as a foundational hermit whose solitary life in the desert inspired monastic traditions across Europe. Etching's precision suited book illustrations like this, allowing de Hooghe to achieve rich tonal depth and intricate details in hair, robes, and contemplative gaze. A gem of late 17th-century Dutch graphic art, it invites visitors to ponder the saint's enduring legacy of spiritual solitude in an age of religious upheaval.

About the Artist

Romeyn de Hooghe · 1645–1708

Romeyn de Hooghe (1645-1708) was a Dutch Baroque engraver, draughtsman, and political satirist who became the most prolific and versatile graphic artist of the Dutch Republic in the late seventeenth century. Born in Amsterdam, he rose to become one of early modern Europe's most important printmakers and a pioneering master of political satire. De Hooghe's significance extends far beyond his techn...