Saint Bartholomew Poster

The painting San Bartolomeo (Saint Bartholomew) by Peter Paul Rubens, created around 1611, is an oil on panel measuring approximately 108 x 84 cm. It depicts the apostle Bartholomew, who is traditionally shown holding a knife, the instrument of his martyrdom by flaying. This work is part of a series of apostle portraits Rubens made circa 1610–1612 and is noteable for its dramatic Baroque style, with strong chiaroscuro and emotional intensity. The saint is portrayed with a contemplative expression, looking upward, and draped in heavy fabric that demonstrates Rubens’ mastery of texture and form. Although the original is housed in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, there are reproductions and prints available, and it is sometimes associated with collections such as the Galleria Pallavicini in Rome, where works by Rubens are also held, though specific confirmation of this painting’s presence there is not documented in the sources.