St. Ambrose and Emperor Theodosius
around 1615/16 | Peter Paul Rubens
St. Ambrose, who became bishop of Milan in 374, refused to allow Theodosius to enter the cathedral because the emperor had perpetrated a horrifying bloodbath on the citizens of Thessalonica as a reprisal for the assassination of one of his generals. The highlight of the composition is the encounter of the two adversaries. Their red and golden garments provide accents to a coloration that is otherwise restricted to shades of grey and brown. Rubens formulates the moral message of his picture in the figure of the resolute bishop.
St. Ambrose, who became bishop of Milan in 374, refused to allow Theodosius to enter the cathedral because the emperor had perpetrated a horrifying bloodbath on the citizens of Thessalonica as a reprisal for the assassination of one of his generals. The highlight of the composition is the encounter of the two adversaries. Their red and golden garments provide accents to a coloration that is otherwise restricted to shades of grey and brown. Rubens formulates the moral message of his picture in the figure of the resolute bishop.
Artist:
Peter Paul Rubens (1577 Siegen - 1640 Antwerpen) DNB
Time:
around 1615/16
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Flemish
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
Framed: 344,5 cm × 284,5 cm × 13 cm
Overall: 308 cm × 248,5 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 524
Provenance
1733 Imperial Coll. Vienna
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