Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral
Painting by Anthony van Dyck / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral is a painting of c. 1619–20 by Anthony van Dyck in the National Gallery, London.
Quick Facts Saint Ambrose Barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral, Artist ...
Saint Ambrose Barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral | |
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Saint Ambrose barring Theodosius from Milan Cathedral | |
Artist | Anthony van Dyck |
Year | c. 1619–20 |
Medium | Oil on canvas |
Dimensions | 149 cm (59 in) × 113 cm (44 in) |
Location | National Gallery |
Accession No. | NG50 |
Identifiers | RKDimages ID: 37078 Art UK artwork ID: the-emperor-theodosius-is-forbidden-by-saint-ambrose-to-enter-milan-cathedral-115572 |
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It draws heavily on a 1618 treatment of the same subject by Peter Paul Rubens, on which van Dyck had worked as a studio assistant. In van Dyck's version, Theodosius is beardless, the architectural background is more defined, a spear and a halberd are added on the left-hand side and a dog in the bottom-left.
The painting depicts the Roman emperor Theodosius I and his entourage being barred from Milan Cathedral by its archbishop Saint Ambrose, as punishment for the Massacre of Thessalonica.