Peter Paul Rubens, a renowned Flemish Baroque painter, created the painting “Saint Gregory with Saints Domitilla, Maurus, and Papianus” in 1607. The painting is an excellent example of Baroque art style and depicts Saints Maurus, Gregory, Papianus, Nereus, Domitilla en Achilleus. It measures 477 x 288 cm and is made of oil on canvas.
The artwork is alternatively known as “The Madonna of Vallicella adored by St. Gregory with St. Maurus, and St. Papianus; St. Domitilla with St. Nereus and St. Achilleus.” It captures the Counter-Reformation movement’s essence during that period through its sensuality in color and motion in allegorical portraits.
Ruben’s masterpiece features vivid colors that emphasize the quiet moving human figures are present in his paintings – a trademark characteristic for him to capture sensuousness wholly enrapturing viewers worldwide today as it did more than four hundred years ago.
Overall Peter Paul Rubens’ masterpiece “Saint Gregory with Saints Domitilla, Maurus, and Papianu” exemplifies the art style that gained popularity after Roman Catholic Church’s Council of Trent’s policy statement banning Protestantism imagery usage inside churches from appearing ‘glaring or inappropriate rather than just beautiful.’
