Saint Paul c. 16th century

Editor: So, this is Lucas Cranach the Elder’s "Saint Paul," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's stark and powerful. The sword seems so prominent. What key symbols do you see at play here? Curator: Notice how Saint Paul holds both the sword and the book. The sword symbolizes his martyrdom, certainly, but also the penetrating power of the word, his epistles cutting through falsehood. And the book? Editor: That would signify his teachings, his role in spreading Christian doctrine? Curator: Precisely. How do these juxtaposed symbols speak to you about the complex nature of faith and its propagation? Editor: It's like a balance between force and intellect. I hadn't considered the sword as anything beyond a symbol of death. Curator: Indeed. It's a potent reminder that symbols rarely carry just one meaning.