Descent from the Cross (outside right panel) 1614

Peter Paul Reubens made this oil on panel as the exterior right panel of the Descent from the Cross triptych. The panel depicts St. John the Evangelist, one of Christ's twelve apostles, holding a lantern aloft, his face illuminated by its glow. The moon hangs above him in the dark sky. Snakes and lizards fill the lower corner. Rubens creates meaning through his masterful use of light and shadow, a technique known as chiaroscuro. Rubens painted this triptych in Antwerp during the 17th century, a time when the Catholic Church was reasserting its power. The location of this artwork in the Cathedral, its patronage by the Church, and its subject matter reflect the prevailing religious and social values of the time. By examining historical documents, theological treatises, and the writings of Rubens himself, we can gain a deeper understanding of its cultural and institutional context, and the dialogue it creates with the conservative ideas of its time.