Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral

Saint Ambrose Barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral
Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral
ArtistAnthony van Dyck Edit this on Wikidata
Yearc. 1619–20
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions149 cm (59 in) × 113 cm (44 in)
LocationNational Gallery
Accession No.NG50 Edit this on Wikidata
IdentifiersRKDimages ID: 37078
Art UK artwork ID: the-emperor-theodosius-is-forbidden-by-saint-ambrose-to-enter-milan-cathedral-115572
[edit on Wikidata]

Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral is a painting of c. 1619–20 by Anthony van Dyck in the National Gallery, in London.

It draws heavily on a 1618 treatment of the same subject by Peter Paul Rubens, on which van Dyck had worked as a studio assistant. In van Dyck's version, Theodosius is beardless, the architectural background is more defined, a spear and a halberd are added on the left-hand side and a dog in the bottom-left.

The painting depicts the Roman emperor Theodosius I and his entourage being barred from Milan Cathedral by its archbishop Saint Ambrose, as punishment for the Massacre of Thessalonica.

See also

Sources

Bibliography

  • Gian Pietro Bellori, Vite de' pittori, scultori e architecti moderni, Torino, Einaudi, 1976.
  • Didier Bodart, Van Dyck, Prato, Giunti, 1997.
  • Christopher Brown, Van Dyck 1599–1641, Milano, RCS Libri, 1999.ISBN 8817860603
  • Justus Müller Hofstede, Van Dyck, Milano, Rizzoli/Skira, 2004.
  • Stefano Zuffi, Il Barocco, Verona, Mondadori, 2004.