Who painted Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra?

Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra was painted by Jacob Jordaens in 1616.

Where can I see Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra?

Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra?

Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra?

Museum-quality prints of Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra

Jacob Jordaens , 1616

Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Jacob Jordaens’ canvas *Sts Paul and Barnabas in Lystra*, painted in 1616, presents a bustling scene from the Acts of the Apostles. The composition captures the moment when the two missionaries are hailed as deities after curing a crippled man, a narrative that allowed Jordaens to explore crowd dynamics and emotional intensity.

Subject & Meaning

The work illustrates the Lystra episode in which Paul and Barnabas, having healed a paralytic, are mistakenly revered as Zeus and Hermes. By portraying the mixture of awe, confusion, and confrontation among the townspeople, Jordaens emphasizes the clash between divine attribution and human misunderstanding, a theme common in Baroque religious storytelling.

Technique & Style

Jordaens employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using deep shadows to isolate faces and hands while the surrounding figures are bathed in warm, golden light. The palette of vivid reds, ochres, and flesh tones heightens the drama, and the crowded arrangement creates a sense of movement that guides the viewer’s eye through the chaotic tableau.

History & Provenance

Completed shortly after Jordaens rose to prominence in Flanders, the painting entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the 18th‑century Russian interest in Western European Baroque art and the museum’s effort to assemble a comprehensive European holdings.

Context

Created during a period when Jordaens succeeded Rubens and van Dyck as the leading Flemish painter, the canvas reflects the artist’s focus on biblical and genre subjects. While he never left the Low Countries, his work demonstrates the broader Baroque fascination with theatricality, emotional expression, and the interplay of light and shadow.