Apostle Judas Thaddeus

About this work

This painting shows a man with a long beard and hair, dressed in a robe, holding a book in his left hand and a sword in his right. He stands with his feet shoulder-width apart, looking down at a head on the ground. The background is a bright light, with rays emanating from behind the man's head. The man's facial expression is serious, and his eyes seem to be gazing downward at the head. The head on the ground appears to be that of a man with a beard, and it is positioned at an angle, as if it has been severed from the body. The artist's use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the painting. The overall mood is one of solemnity and contemplation. To learn more about the artist who created this work, look up Baldung Grien, Hans.