Paul in Malta

Vos, Maarten de, after

Engraving on paper of Paul in Malta from a series based on the life of St Paul, probably engraved and published by Jan Sadeler (1550-1600) after a design by Maarten de Vos (1532-1603) in Cologne c. 1581. Latin text inscribed below is from Acts 28.3-5. On route to Rome, a storm drives a ship toward Malta where it runs aground on a sandbar. In the background, passengers swim to shore. When the locals build a fire to warm the survivors, a snake jumps out and fastens itself to Paul’s hand but the saint easily shakes the viper off.