The Disobedient Prophet
by JACOBSZ., Lambert, Oil on canvas, 107 x 136 cm
In his early period Lambert Jacobsz. produced small-figure scenes in the style of Jan Pynas, his teacher in Amsterdam. From 1628 he also painted biblical subjects with large figures, such as the present painting. It was the result of his visit to Leiden in 1628, where he encountered the work of Jan Lievens.
The subject of this painting is taken from the Old Testament (i Kings 13:20-22), which recounts how the old prophet in Bethel condemns the disobedient prophet to death. Jacobsz., as in many other similar compositions, tells the story by employing theatrical hand gestures.