King Amaziah and the Man of God

About this artwork

Ferdinand Bol, leading Dutch Golden Age painter and former pupil of Rembrandt, created *King Amaziah and the of God* between 1660 and 1663. This monumental oil on canvas, measuring over 4 meters tall and nearly 3 meters wide, formed part of a lavish series of five biblical works commissioned for a grand house at Nieuwegracht in Utrecht. Such large-scale history paintings were prized in affluent 17th-century Dutch homes, blending spiritual narrative with opulent display to inspire moral reflection amid the era's prosperity. The composition dramatically captures a pivotal biblical moment: the "Prince of the Host of the Lord" appearing to Joshua at Jericho. Heaven parts above, revealing frolicking putti angels, one clutching a serpent biting its tail—the ancient ouroboros symbol of eternity. Joshua stands resolute in gleaming armor, sword and shield in hand, evoking divine intervention and heroic faith. Bol's Baroque technique shines through in his masterful use of chiaroscuro for theatrical light effects and rich, textured brushwork, refining Rembrandt's influence into a more elegant, luminous style. Housed today in Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum, this piece highlights Bol's skill in elevating scriptural stories into visually immersive spectacles, underscoring the cultural reverence for Old Testament tales in Protestant Netherlands.