Who painted The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry?

The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry was painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1625.

Where can I see The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry?

The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry?

The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry

Peter Paul Rubens , 1625

The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Technique & Style

The compact scale and oil-on-panel support are characteristic of Rubens's practice for devotional and allegorical compositions during this period.

The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry is an oil painting on panel by Peter Paul Rubens, executed in 1625. Measuring 65 × 91 cm, the work belongs to the religious genre and depicts a sculptural figure. The compact scale and oil-on-panel support are characteristic of Rubens's practice for devotional and allegorical compositions during this period.

The painting's subject, the triumph of the Eucharist over idolatry, aligns with Counter-Reformation themes, rendered with the dynamic composition and rich coloration typical of the artist's mature style.

History & Provenance

Peter Paul Rubens created the oil-on-panel painting The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry during the mid-1620s. While internal records cite the work's date as 1625, external documentation provides an inception range spanning from January 1, 1625, to the year 1626. The artwork measures 65 cm in height and 91 cm in width.

Currently, the piece is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The painting depicts a sculptural scene within a religious genre, consistent with Rubens' broader output of the period.

The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The painting is an oil-on-panel work measuring 65 cm in height and 91 cm in width. While the creation date is variously cited as 1625 or 1626, the work remains a key part of the museum's holdings of religious art by Peter Paul Rubens.

The provided sources do not contain specific accession numbers, inventory codes, or a record of past exhibitions for this artwork.

Overview

Created in 1625 by the Flemish painter and diplomat Peter Paul Rubens, The Triumph of the Eucharist over Idolatry is an oil on canvas executed in the vigorous Baroque idiom. The composition, now housed in Madrid’s Museo del Prado, presents a tumultuous tableau that dramatizes the victory of Christian sacrament over pagan worship, employing the dramatic lighting and movement typical of Rubens’s large‑scale religious works.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the scene a muscular, shirtless figure in red grapples with a charging bull, symbolizing the struggle between the true faith and idolatrous forces. Above them, a luminous, winged presence hovers within a radiant cloud, representing the divine Eucharist that illuminates the conflict. Surrounding onlookers display fear and confusion, underscoring the triumph of the sacred over earthly superstition.