Bust of an apostle (St. Paul) with sword.

Theodor Matham, also Theodoor Matham (c. 1605/6-1676)) was a Dutch engraver. He was the younger son of the better known engraver Jacob Matham, and the brother of the engravers Jan and Adriaen Matham. He went to Italy and studied under Cornelius Bloemaert and then returned to Haarlem. He engraved many prints based on important works by such artists as Guido Reni, as in this work, and Adriaen Brouwer and Frans Hals.

There are several surviving paintings of a similarly agonised looking St Paul, rendered in dramatic chiaroscuro (light and shade) by the major Italy painter and contemporary of Matham, Guido Reni, but none are recorded with the saint holding his sword, as here.

Dr Mark Stocker      Curator, Historical International Art            February 2017