The Ecstasy of Saint Paul

In his second Epistle to the Corinthians, Saint Paul describes the revelations that were made to him. Johann Liss portrays one of the apostle's visions, 'how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter'. Above the seated apostle, who is surrounded by books, an angel draws aside…

In his second Epistle to the Corinthians, Saint Paul describes the revelations that were made to him. Johann Liss portrays one of the apostle's visions, 'how that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter'. Above the seated apostle, who is surrounded by books, an angel draws aside a curtain; terrified, Paul shrinks back from the expanse of heaven revealed to him. Angels playing musical instruments gambol in the clouds, and in the distance the Trinity appears. Falck made this print after the original painting (Staatliche Museen, Berlin).