1511
oil
canvas
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
Dominant colour
Sts Paul and Barnabas at Lystra is a 1511 oil by Raphael, a High Renaissance work, held at Ashmolean Museum.
This painting depicts a scene from the Bible, with two men, Paul and Barnabas, standing in front of a crowd. Paul is holding a staff and appears to be preaching, while Barnabas is standing beside him. The crowd is gathered around them, with some people looking on in interest and others seeming to be skeptical. The scene is set in a classical-style building with columns and arches, and the background features a landscape with mountains and a statue. The painting is done in a realistic style, with detailed depictions of the figures and their clothing. The use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, adds depth and drama to the scene. To learn more about this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
Raphael was born Raffaello Sanzio in Urbino on April 6, 1483, the son of Giovanni Santi, a painter and poet attached to the ducal court.
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