Anonymous: Saint Dionysius the Areopagite (1505 - 1510)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

A painting by an anonymous French artist. Saint Dionysius the Areopagite was a member of the Areopagus (a council of elders) who was converted to Christianity after a preach by the Apostle Paul (the Areopagus sermon, Acts 17:16-34). After his conversion Dionysius became the first Bishop of Athens. His feastday is 3 October and is the patron saint of lawyers. The print also has 2 lines in Latin, the one on the right confuses Dionysius the Areopagite with saint Denis (Dionysius), the first bishop of Paris:

At the right: 'Divus Dionysius Parisor. Episcopus Theologus Aripagita' (= Saint Dionysius of Paris; bishop, theologian and Areopagite)

At the left: 'Magnum Mysterium et Mirabile Sacramentum' (= Great mystery and wonderful sacrament) 

Painting from 1505-1510.