Who painted St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians?

St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians was painted by François de Nomé in 1620.

Where can I see St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians?

St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians is held by Walters Art Museum.

What movement is St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians?

St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians?

Museum-quality prints of St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians

François de Nomé , 1620

St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist François de Nomé. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1620 by the French painter François de Nomé, this copper painting titled St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians is part of the collection at the Walters Art Museum. The work captures a moment of public oration, rendered on a metal support that allows for fine detail and a luminous surface.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a figure in a vivid red robe, positioned on a raised circular platform and addressing a mixed assembly of listeners.

The composition centers on a figure in a vivid red robe, positioned on a raised circular platform and addressing a mixed assembly of listeners. His right hand is extended in a gestural emphasis, while his left rests on a column, suggesting authority. The varied crowd, ranging from armored individuals to casually dressed figures, reflects the diverse audience that the apostle Paul might have encountered in the ancient city of Athens.

Technique & Style

Nomé employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated areas against deep shadows to model forms and convey spatial depth. The contrast accentuates the central speaker and the architectural backdrop, a grand edifice with columns and statuary, creating a dramatic atmosphere that underscores the intensity of the sermon.

History & Provenance

The painting has remained in the United States since its acquisition by the Walters Art Museum, where it is displayed among other Baroque-era works. Its provenance prior to museum ownership is not extensively documented, but its attribution to Nomé aligns with his known activity in the early seventeenth century.

Context

François de Nomé, active during the early Baroque period, was known for imaginative architectural settings and theatrical scenes. This work reflects the period’s interest in combining religious narrative with elaborate, often fantastical, built environments, a hallmark of Nomé’s oeuvre and of the broader Counter‑Reformation artistic agenda.