Saint Paul thumbnail 1
Saint Paul thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sacred Silver & Stained Glass, Room 83, The Whiteley Galleries

Saint Paul

Panel
ca. 1680 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The life of St Paul is recorded in the New Testament in the Acts of the Apostles. His teachings were instrumental in the development of the early Christian church. Although he was not one of the original Apostles, Paul was later included among them

Paul’s real name was ‘Saul’. He had been an active and vicious opponent of the early Christian faith. In Acts he is recorded as approving the killing of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who was stoned to death.

On one of his missions to persecute the Christians, Saul was travelling by road to the city of Damascus. He was blinded by a brilliant blaze of light and God spoke to him, saying ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’. Saul’s companions took him to Damascus, where his blindness was cured and he was converted to Christianity. He took the name ‘Paul’ at this point. This event is seen in the background of the panel, and Paul gestures towards it.

The style of the painting suggests that it was done by a Netherlandish artist. However, many artists from the Netherlands were working in England in the 17th century and their work influenced that of English glass painters.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSaint Paul (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Enamel paints and silver stain on clear glass
Brief description
Panel of clear glass painted with enamels and yellow (silver) stain. Depicting a figure of St. Paul. Netherlands or English, ca.1680.
Dimensions
  • Framed height: 25.0cm
  • Framed width: 19.7cm
  • Framed depth: 3.2cm
  • Sight height: 23.5cm
  • Sight width: 18.2cm
  • Framed weight: 1.10kg
Marks and inscriptions
'Savle Savle Quid Me Perseq[u]eris'
Translation
Saul Saul why do you persecute me
Gallery label
SAINT PAUL In the background is shown the Conversion of Saul on his way to Damascus, with the words of God: SAVLE SAVLE QVID ME PERSEQERIS ('Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'). Netherlands or England, probably about 1680 Museum no. C.61-1937((PW) 2003)
Credit line
Given by Mr. H. W. Leigh Bennett
Object history
Formerly at Donnington Grove, near Newbury, Berkshire.
Historical context
The life of St. Paul is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. Paul's teachings were instrumental in the development of the early Christian Church. Although he wasn't one of the original Twelve Apostles, Paul was later included amongst them

Paul's real name was 'Saul'. He was an active and vicious opponent of the early Christian faith. In Acts he is recorded as being amongst the crowd that condemned St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who was then stoned to death.

On one of his missions to persecute the Christians, Saul was travelling by road to the city of Damascus. He was blinded by a brilliant blaze of light and God spoke to him saying; 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'. Saul's aids took him on to Damascus where his blindness was cured and he was converted to Christianity. He took the name 'Paul' at this point. This event is seen in the background of the panel and Paul gestures towards it.

The style of the painting would suggest that it was painted by a Netherlandish artist. However, many artists from the Netherlands were working in England in the 17th century and their work influenced that of English glass-painters.
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceNew Testament
Summary
The life of St Paul is recorded in the New Testament in the Acts of the Apostles. His teachings were instrumental in the development of the early Christian church. Although he was not one of the original Apostles, Paul was later included among them

Paul’s real name was ‘Saul’. He had been an active and vicious opponent of the early Christian faith. In Acts he is recorded as approving the killing of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who was stoned to death.

On one of his missions to persecute the Christians, Saul was travelling by road to the city of Damascus. He was blinded by a brilliant blaze of light and God spoke to him, saying ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’. Saul’s companions took him to Damascus, where his blindness was cured and he was converted to Christianity. He took the name ‘Paul’ at this point. This event is seen in the background of the panel, and Paul gestures towards it.

The style of the painting suggests that it was done by a Netherlandish artist. However, many artists from the Netherlands were working in England in the 17th century and their work influenced that of English glass painters.
Collection
Accession number
C.61-1937

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Record createdSeptember 29, 2005
Record URL
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