Saint Luke Painting the Madonna 1602

"Saint Luke Painting the Madonna" is a 1602 oil painting by Maarten de Vos, currently housed in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp. The artwork portrays the patron saint of artists, Saint Luke, in the act of painting the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. The composition is set in a grand interior space, with the subject matter taking place in a workshop filled with artistic paraphernalia. The scene is surrounded by a celestial glow emanating from a group of cherubs hovering above, emphasizing the divine nature of the work. This painting exemplifies de Vos's distinctive style, blending realism with religious fervor, which was characteristic of the Antwerp Mannerist school.