Who painted Saint Paul Speaks to the Women of Philippi by a River?

Saint Paul Speaks to the Women of Philippi by a River was painted by Philip Galle in 1574.

Where can I see Saint Paul Speaks to the Women of Philippi by a River?

Saint Paul Speaks to the Women of Philippi by a River is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Paul Speaks to the Women of Philippi by a River?

Saint Paul Speaks to the Women of Philippi by a River is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saint Paul Speaks to the Women of Philippi by a River

Philip Galle , 1574

Saint Paul Speaks to the Women of Philippi by a River is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Philip Galle. It dates from 1574 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Philip Galle’s 1574 engraving portrays the apostle Paul delivering a sermon to a gathering of women on the banks of a river. The composition places Paul upright, his arms expressive, while the seated women listen attentively. Architectural elements, trees and a distant bridge frame the scene, lending a tranquil atmosphere to the biblical episode.

Subject & Meaning

The image illustrates the New Testament account of Paul’s encounter with the Philippian women, emphasizing the transmission of Christian teaching to a receptive audience. The women's focused expressions convey a sense of reverence and curiosity, underscoring the theme of faith being communicated across gender and cultural boundaries in the early church.

Technique & Style

Executed in engraving, the work relies on incised lines on a copper plate, employing cross‑hatching to model volume and suggest texture. The fine linear network creates subtle gradations of tone, while the careful arrangement of line work conveys depth in the landscape and architectural background, characteristic of late‑Renaissance printmaking.

History & Provenance

Philip Galle, a Dutch publisher and engraver active in the latter half of the sixteenth century, produced the print as part of his series of religious reproductions. The engraving entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of European prints.

Context

The print reflects the broader Renaissance interest in disseminating biblical narratives through affordable printed media. Galle’s work often reproduced compositions by earlier masters, making sacred subjects accessible to a wider audience and reinforcing the role of print as a vehicle for devotional instruction during the Reformation era.

Artist & collection

Artist

Philip Galle

Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.