Artwork
Hl. Agabus von Antiochia
Hl. Agabus von Antiochia is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Abraham van Diepenbeeck. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1635, this work by Abraham van Diepenbeeck belongs to the Flemish Baroque tradition and is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings. The composition centers on a kneeling figure in a white, hooded robe whose outstretched hands convey prayerful supplication toward a celestial grouping.
Subject & Meaning
The central devotee looks upward at a heavenly assembly that includes a woman cradling an infant, a crowned cherub, and another cherub bearing a cloth. The arrangement suggests intercession and divine presence, emphasizing themes of piety and the saint’s communion with the sacred.
Technique & Style
Van Diepenbeeck employs strong chiaroscuro, contrasting illuminated forms with deep shadows to model volume and guide the eye toward the celestial figures. The handling of light creates a three‑dimensional effect, while the restrained palette reinforces the work’s devotional tone.
History & Provenance
A native of the Dutch Republic who worked primarily in Antwerp, van Diepenbeeck was active in the city’s vibrant workshop network, including collaborations with printers and ties to Peter Paul Rubens’s studio. The painting entered the Alte Pinakothek collection in the 19th century, where it remains on display.
Context
The piece reflects the Counter‑Reformation’s emphasis on visual narratives that inspire personal devotion. Its subject—a saintly figure in prayer before a heavenly host—aligns with contemporary Flemish religious art that sought to make the divine accessible through dramatic, emotionally resonant imagery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham van Diepenbeeck (9 May 1596 (baptised) – between May and September 1675) was a Dutch painter, draftsman, glass painter, print maker and tapestry designer who worked most of his active career in Antwerp.
Praying Monk
Saint Francis of Assisi
St. Francis in Ecstasy
Saint Peter of Alcántara
Visión de San Agustín
Mary, Elisabeth, the child and the young st. John in glory, adored by two monks in white religious costume
Saint Anthony of Padua
Hl. Franziskus
The Vision of the Blessed Sebastián Aparicio
The Vision of Saint Francis of Paola
Saint Francis of Assisi
Hl. Karl Borromäus