|
|
| Artist | After Rubens, Peter Paul (Flemish painter and draftsman, 1577-1640) |
| Previous attributions | Previously attributed to school of Rubens, Peter Paul (Flemish painter and draftsman, 1577-1640) Previously attributed to manner of Rubens, Peter Paul (Flemish painter and draftsman, 1577-1640) |
| Title | The Triumph of Faith |
| Alternative/previous titles | The Triumph of the Eucharist over Philosophy and Science; The Birth of Religion |
| Date earliest | possibly about 1650 |
| Date latest | possibly about 1850 |
| Material | oil on metal (copper) |
| Measurements | 69.4 x 88.6 cm |
| Description | This is a copy of Rubens’ The Triumph of Faith (or The Triumph of the Eucharist over Philosophy and Science), one of the Eucharist series of tapestry designs. The personification of Faith, a woman robed in red with a halo, rides on a golden chariot drawn by angels. Faith holds aloft the eucharistic chalice, above which hovers the host. Also on the chariot is an angel bearing a large cross. Between the two figures is set the terrestrial globe, representing the universality of the Catholic Church. Following the chariot on foot are four allegorical figures striking subservient attitudes, which have been identified as Stoic and Epicurean Philosophy, Science and Nature. |
| Subject | allegory (Eucharist, philosophy, science, Faith); religion (Eucharist, angel, chalice, host, cross) |
| Collection | Victoria Art Gallery, Bath |
| Current accession number | BATVG:P:1940.8 |
| Acquisition details | Given by Gertrude Stanbury on behalf of the late Frederick Stanbury 1940. |
| Principal publications | Wright, C., Old Master Paintings in Britain: An Index of Continental Old Master Paintings executed before c.1800 in Public Collections in the United Kingdom, London, 1976, p. 177 (as Rubens, school); Sloman, S., Victoria Art Gallery: Concise Catalogue of Paintings and Drawings, Bath, 1991, p. 97 (as Style of Rubens). |
| Notes | The tapestries from these designs were made c.1626-28 for the church of the Descalzas Reales, Madrid. The orientation of the Victoria Art Gallery version is similar to the equivalent sketch or modello in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (i.e. the reverse of the tapestries and the earliest engravings). The execution of the Victoria Art Gallery version appears somewhat maladroit, although this may be owed in part to over-painting. Bequeathed together with this work was another copy from the same series by Rubens, The Triumph of the Eucharist over Ignorance and Blindness (1940.9, now lost, accessioned as Italian School, The Progress of Religion). It is unlikely these paintings were produced together as the latter was on a canvas support. For the original tapestry, related designs and early copies, see N. de Poorter, The Eucharist Series (2 vols), Corpus Rubenianum Ludwig Burchard, part II, London & Philadelphia, 1978, cat. 12, pp. 331 ff. |
| Rights status | Victoria Art Gallery, Bath |
| Author | Dr Susan Steer |
