Public domain
Self-portrait as the Apostle Paul
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Rembrandt is 55 years old in this self-portrait, and he still looks at himself candidly. Here he assumes the guise of a personage from the Bible, the Apostle Paul. The sword protruding from his cloak and the manuscript in his hands are the apostle’s customary attributes. By using his own face, Rembrandt encouraged the viewer to engage personally with the saint.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineSelf-portrait as the Apostle Paul. 1661. Rembrandt van Rijn. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
