Paulus voor Festus en Agrippa 1582

Philips Galle made this print, "Paulus voor Festus en Agrippa," using etching in the late 16th century. This image depicts Paul the Apostle on trial before the Roman governor Festus and King Agrippa, as described in the Book of Acts. Galle was from the Netherlands, a region in the midst of religious and political upheaval during this time, divided between Catholics and Protestants, and ruled by the Spanish crown. Galle's prints reflect these tensions, and this print of Paul before Festus and Agrippa may have been intended to comment on the political events of his own time. Paul, a religious figure, stands accused before political authorities. Is Galle using Paul's story to suggest that standing up for your beliefs is more important than fearing earthly rulers? Art historians examine such prints in relation to the social and political context of the time, and learn more about the artist and the individuals and institutions that commissioned them.