“This painting draws you in with its dramatic lighting and the serene, upward gaze of the figure, embodying the powerful spiritual focus of the Dutch followers of Caravaggio.”
In Hendrick ter Brugghen's "Allegory of Faith," a woman holds a chalice and a crucifix, symbols of the Christian faith, against a dark, dramatic background. The light, a hallmark of the Utrecht Caravaggisti, falls intensely on her face and hands, emphasizing her serene expression and the objects she holds. Her gaze, directed upward, suggests a profound spiritual connection. The rich, deep colors, particularly the crimson of her garment, add to the painting's solemnity and emotional depth. The composition focuses tightly on the figure, drawing the viewer into her contemplative state. This work, painted in 1626, reflects the influence of Caravaggio's dramatic lighting and realistic portrayal of figures, which ter Brugghen encountered during his time in Italy.
- Artist
- Hendrick ter Brugghen
- Date
- 1626
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Leiden Collection
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The intense light illuminating her face and hands.
The chalice she holds, a symbol of the Eucharist.
Her upward gaze, suggesting spiritual contemplation.
The crucifix clutched in her hand.
1 more detail is waiting.
See all 5 in Art Whisper →Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Allegory of Faith — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Hendrick ter Brugghen
1588–1629 · Dutch RepublicHendrick ter Brugghen brought Caravaggio's dramatic light and emotional realism from Italy to the Dutch Republic, profoundly shaping Dutch Golden Age painting.
Further Works by ter Brugghen
The Calling of Saint Matthew
1609 · Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
Pilate washing his hands
1617 · National Museum in Lublin
Roman Charity
1622 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Saint Jerome
1624 · Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
A Boy Playing the Lute ("Hearing", One of a Series of the Five Senses)
1620 · Nationalmuseum
A Girl Holding a Glass ("Taste", One of a Series of the Five Senses)
1620 · Nationalmuseum
Boy Playing a Fife
1620 · Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
Calling of Saint Matthew
1621 · Centraal Museum
More works to explore
Beyond ter Brugghen: works from the same years.
Same era · 1610s–1640s
Anna van der Aar (born 1576/77, died after 1626)
Frans Hals · 1626 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1610s–1640s
Musical Company
Rembrandt · 1626 · Museum De Lakenhal
Same era · 1610s–1640s
The Adoration of the Eucharist
Peter Paul Rubens · 1626 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1610s–1640s
Kitchen Scene
Diego Velázquez · 1618 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1610s–1640s
Southern Barbarians
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1625 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1610s–1640s
An Elegant Company
Samuel Alcock & Company · 1632 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1610s–1640s
The Fortune-Teller
Georges de La Tour · 1630 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1610s–1640s
Portrait of a man
Willem van der Vliet · 1634 · Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Same era · 1610s–1640s
Saint Romanus of Antioch and Saint Barulas
Master of the View of Saint Gudula · 1638 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1610s–1640s
An Allegory of Fruitfulness
Jacob Jordaens · 1620 · Wallace Collection
Same era · 1610s–1640s
Floral Still Life
Jan van Kessel the Elder · 1633 · Museo del Prado
Same era · 1610s–1640s
Simon Vouet
Noriega · 1630 · Art Institute of Chicago