Paul Before Felix c. 1751

"Paul Before Felix" (c. 1751) is a red chalk drawing by the English artist William Hogarth, depicting the biblical story of Saint Paul’s trial before the Roman governor Felix. The dramatic scene is set in a grand Roman courtroom, with the judge Felix sitting in the foreground and Paul addressing him with passion. Hogarth's use of red chalk creates a dramatic, almost theatrical sense of depth and movement in this powerful scene. The drawing is a testament to Hogarth's keen interest in historical events and his skill in depicting them with vivid realism.