Saint Gregory and other saints in front of a gateway with a portrait of the Virgin, cherubs overhead
ca. 1636–80
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 14 15/16 in. × 9 in. (38 × 22.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.7146
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking etching captures a of divine reverence, with Saint Gregory and fellow saints gathered before an ornate. Above them hovers a tender portrait of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child, encirc by playful cherubs. Created around1636–1680 Rombout Ehoudts after designs by Peter Paul Rubens, the print measures nearly 15 by 9 inches and exemplifies the Baroque period’s dramatic religious imagery. Rubens, the celebrated Flemish master, supplied the original composition, while Eynhoudts translated it into etching—a medium prized for its ability to reproduce intricate details and reach wider audiences. The scene blends architectural grandeur with heavenly figures, reflecting the Catholic Church’s use of art to inspire faith during the Counter-Reformation. Cherubs and saints together evoke both earthly devotion and celestial glory. As a print from the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, this work highlights how etchings helped spread Rubens’s influential style across Europe. Its dynamic grouping and luminous figures continue to draw viewers into a timeless story of sanctity and grace.
About the Artist
Rombout Eynhoudts|Peter Paul Rubens (Dutch|Flemish) · 1613 |1577 –1680 |1640
Dutch, Antwerp 1613–1680 Antwerp|Flemish, Siegen 1577–1640 Antwerp