Attributed to Hendrik van Balen and Jan Brueghel the Younger: The Baptism of the Chamberlain of Queen Candace of Ethiopia (1625-1630)

(Mauritshuis, The Hague, The Netherlands)

A painting attributed to the Flemish artists Hendrik van Balen (1575-1632) and Jan Brueghel the Younger (1601-1678). This piece shows an episode from the New Testament (acts 8:26-40). According to the story Philip the Evangelist was told by an angel to go to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. During that trip Philip saw an Ethiopian eunuch who was the treasurer of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, who was reading from the Book of Isaiah. Philip approached the eunuch and asked if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch said he did not and asked if Philip could help him. After Philip explained the book and told about Jesus the eunuch asked if could be baptized which Philip did. The baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch traditionally marks the start of the Ethiopian Church. Painting from 1625-1630.