Heilige Theonas van Oxyrynchum after 1636

This etching by Frederick Bloemaert, created after 1636, depicts the Holy Theonas of Oxyrynchum, a 3rd-century Christian saint known for his ability to tame wild animals. Theonas, dressed in a long robe, is shown offering water to a deer and a dog from a bucket. This captivating scene, housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcases Bloemaert's masterful use of detail and linework to create a lifelike representation of this revered figure and his extraordinary gift. The image itself is a fine example of a genre of artworks known as hagiography, which depicts the lives and miracles of saints.