A Tall Antique Italian Oil on Canvas, Embarking at Ostia, C. 1890, H-90 3/8 In

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Painted circa 1890, this tall Italian oil on canvas is based on the original 17th-century painting by Claude Lorrain, entitled … Read more Painted circa 1890, this tall Italian oil on canvas is based on the original 17th-century painting by Claude Lorrain, entitled Landscape with St Paula of Rome Embarking at Ostia (also known as The Embarkation of Saint Paula). Standing over seven and a half feet tall, our version is actually significantly taller than the original, but is otherwise an exact rendition.

The subject of the scene is “Paula of Rome” (born AD 347), who would later become venerated upon her death in 404. She is the patron saint of widows, who, upon losing her husband at the age of 32, traveled to Bethlehem, where she established a monastery for men, a convent for women, and a hostel for those on pilgrimage. Paula can be seen in the painting walking down stone stairs, dressed in lavish silks, as she was known to wear. One of Paula’s daughters is walking behind her, while her son and three other daughters wait by the water’s edge, which is a lovely shade of blue. There are several plied boats in the water, with three ships with masts in the distance. Large architecture, mostly a cream color, lines both shores of the Ostia port, which was the ancient port of Rome. High above is a light blue sky, filled with clouds that shine yellow, pink, and orange from the “golden hour” sun.

Claude Lorrain was an artist from the Duchy of Lorraine (current-day France), active during the Baroque period. Lorrain lived most of his life in Italy and was known for integrating historical figures into landscape paintings. Originally commissioned by Philip IV of Spain, Lorrain painted four horizontal and four vertical paintings between 1635 and 1641 for Palacio del Buen Retiro in Madrid. The painting of Saint Paula currently hangs in the Museo del Prado. See less