The Baptism Of The Eunuch

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The Baptism Of The Eunuch: Rembrandt

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Art Type: Oil Painting
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Rembrandt Oil Painting - The Baptism Of The Eunuch

Keywords: Baptism, Eunuch

Work Overview: The Baptism of the Eunuch
Artist Rembrandt
Year 1626
Medium Oil on panel
Dimensions 64 cm × 47.5 cm (25 in × 18.7 in)
Style Baroque
Genre genre painting
Location Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht

The Baptism of the Eunuch is a 1626 painting by the Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn, owned by the Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht since 1976. It shows Philip the Evangelist baptising an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, traditionally marking the start of the Ethiopian Church (Acts 8:26-39).

This painting is not included in the Bredius catalogue.

Rembrandt went to Amsterdam in 1624 to develop his artistic skills in the workshop of Pieter Lastman. Lastman, a Catholic, had spent some time in Italy and gave a course on the treatment of biblical and mythological subjects which opened up new horizons for Rembrandt. He learnt how to arrange multi-figure compositions, and how to evoke historical place and time through he use of lavish, colourful costumes. Lastman also inspired Rembrandt's painting of The Baptism of the Eunuch, a subject favoured by both Catholics and Protestants.

The black man is the chamberlain of the Candace, the queen of Ethiopia. He is a eunuch, because only castrated men were allowed in the queen's inner circle.

After a visit to Jerusalem he meets the apostle Philip. The chamberlain asks him to explain a verse from Isaiah he had just read (53:7) to him. Philip explains the verse and then joins him on his trip. The apostle starts preaching Jesus' gospel to the chamberlain.

Later on, when they reach a river, the chamberlain asks Philip to baptise him. He undergoes the baptism in ecstasy, with his hand on his chest and his eyes directed to heaven.

This is a panel Rembrandt made in the first years of his long career. It is inspired by a painting his teacher Pieter Lastman made in 1623. The panel is signed "RH 1626" in the bottom right. It was rediscovered in 1976 in a private collection.

Image credits: Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht, photo Ruben de Heer.

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