St Paul Preaching at Ephesus

What it is

This painting was made by the French artist Eustache Le Sueur in 1649. It is a smaller version of a larger work the artist made for Notre-Dame, and it illustrates a scene from the Acts of the Apostles in which Paul preaches at Ephesus and encourages people to burn their books of magic.

Why it matters

The scene highlights Paul's role as a missionary trying to turn people away from pagan practices and toward Christian faith. It shows how seventeenth-century French artists used biblical stories to teach moral and religious lessons, often for grand religious commissions like Notre-Dame.

Why it matters

Look closer

• What does the burning of books in the scene suggest about the conflict between old beliefs and new ones?
• How does the artist use architecture and crowd placement to focus attention on Paul?
• Why might this story have been chosen for a major religious painting in Paris?