Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

De Crayer employs a luminous palette of soft blues and bright golds, creating a delicate contrast between the earthly figures and the celestial realm. Light falls on the central woman and infant, while the surrounding angels are rendered with fine, almost translucent brushwork, reflecting the influence of Peter Paul Rubens on his Flemish contemporaries.

Created while de Crayer served as court painter to the governors of the Southern Netherlands, the painting was intended for a religious setting that promoted Counter‑Reformation ideals. It entered the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s holdings in the 19th century, where it remains on display.

The work belongs to a broader tradition of Flemish devotional art that sought to visualize miraculous narratives for didactic purposes. By depicting saints associated with monastic reform, de Crayer aligns his composition with contemporary efforts to reinforce Catholic orthodoxy in the post‑Council of Trent era.