Fine Art Poster
From £28
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
Saint Paul the Hermit - Mattia Preti
Regular price
£28.00 GBP
Sale price
£28.00 GBP
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A dramatic Baroque portrait by Mattia Preti, capturing Saint Paul the Hermit through the use of intense light and shadow.
Mattia Preti, often known as Il Cavalier Calabrese, was a central figure in the Neapolitan Baroque. This depiction of Saint Paul the Hermit demonstrates his mastery of tenebrism, a technique defined by the dramatic contrast between deep shadow and illuminated form. The saint is shown in a moment of quiet contemplation, his gaze directed upwards, suggesting a spiritual connection beyond the physical confines of his desert dwelling.
Preti renders the figure with anatomical precision, focusing on the weathered texture of the skin and the coarse, woven garment that signifies the ascetic life. The light source, positioned to the left, catches the contours of the saint's torso and the white of his beard, while the background recedes into an impenetrable darkness. This approach directs the viewer's attention entirely to the subject's physical and emotional state. The inclusion of the simple wooden staff and the piece of bread reinforces the narrative of the hermit's survival in the wilderness, stripped of worldly possessions.
Throughout his career, Preti worked in Rome, Naples, and Malta, absorbing the influence of Caravaggio and the later developments of the Roman Baroque. His ability to convey psychological weight through light and shadow is evident here. The composition is tight, focusing on the upper body of the saint to create an immediate, personal encounter. The brushwork remains controlled, allowing for the subtle transitions in tone that define the musculature and the rough fabric. This work is representative of the devotional art produced during the seventeenth century, where the focus shifted toward the human experience of faith, rendered with a realism that brought biblical figures into the tangible world of the viewer.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Complete The Look
Saint Paul the Hermit - Mattia Preti
Regular price
From £28.00 GBP
Sale price
From £28.00 GBP
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Mattia Preti
Preti painted frescoes on the gates of Naples during the 1656 plague. The city was dying around him; he painted anyway. The works have not survived, but they cemented his reputation as a painter who could work under any conditions. He was known as "Il Cavalier Calabrese" after being appointed a Knight of the Order of Saint John in 1660.
He was born in Taverna, Calabria, in 1613 and moved to Rome in 1630 to join his elder brother Gregorio, already a painter there. His style combined Caravaggio's drama with the colour of Guido Reni and the theatricality of Rubens. In 1661 he moved to Malta, where he spent his most productive decades painting the vast ceiling cycle of the life of Saint John the Baptist in Valletta's Co-Cathedral (1661 to 1666). The scale of the Maltese work, covering the entire barrel vault, is among the largest fresco programmes of the seventeenth century. He is buried in the Co-Cathedral alongside fellow Knights.
His colour sensibility, drawn from Reni and filtered through Roman experience, gives even his most dramatically lit compositions a warmth that separates him from the colder tenebrism of other Caravaggisti. He died in 1699, at eighty-six, having worked across Italy and Malta for nearly seven decades.
He was born in Taverna, Calabria, in 1613 and moved to Rome in 1630 to join his elder brother Gregorio, already a painter there. His style combined Caravaggio's drama with the colour of Guido Reni and the theatricality of Rubens. In 1661 he moved to Malta, where he spent his most productive decades painting the vast ceiling cycle of the life of Saint John the Baptist in Valletta's Co-Cathedral (1661 to 1666). The scale of the Maltese work, covering the entire barrel vault, is among the largest fresco programmes of the seventeenth century. He is buried in the Co-Cathedral alongside fellow Knights.
His colour sensibility, drawn from Reni and filtered through Roman experience, gives even his most dramatically lit compositions a warmth that separates him from the colder tenebrism of other Caravaggisti. He died in 1699, at eighty-six, having worked across Italy and Malta for nearly seven decades.
Our Features
Designed for Lasting Impact
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Made to order
Choose your finish
Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From £45
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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Museum-Quality Materials
Artist Biography
Mattia Preti
Preti painted frescoes on the gates of Naples during the 1656 plague. The city was dying around him; he painted anyway. The works have not survived, but they cemented his reputation as a painter who could work under any conditions. He was known as "Il Cavalier Calabrese" after being appointed a Knight of the Order of Saint John in 1660.
He was born in Taverna, Calabria, in 1613 and moved to Rome in 1630 to join his elder brother Gregorio, already a painter there. His style combined Caravaggio's drama with the colour of Guido Reni and the theatricality of Rubens. In 1661 he moved to Malta, where he spent his most productive decades painting the vast ceiling cycle of the life of Saint John the Baptist in Valletta's Co-Cathedral (1661 to 1666). The scale of the Maltese work, covering the entire barrel vault, is among the largest fresco programmes of the seventeenth century. He is buried in the Co-Cathedral alongside fellow Knights.
His colour sensibility, drawn from Reni and filtered through Roman experience, gives even his most dramatically lit compositions a warmth that separates him from the colder tenebrism of other Caravaggisti. He died in 1699, at eighty-six, having worked across Italy and Malta for nearly seven decades.
He was born in Taverna, Calabria, in 1613 and moved to Rome in 1630 to join his elder brother Gregorio, already a painter there. His style combined Caravaggio's drama with the colour of Guido Reni and the theatricality of Rubens. In 1661 he moved to Malta, where he spent his most productive decades painting the vast ceiling cycle of the life of Saint John the Baptist in Valletta's Co-Cathedral (1661 to 1666). The scale of the Maltese work, covering the entire barrel vault, is among the largest fresco programmes of the seventeenth century. He is buried in the Co-Cathedral alongside fellow Knights.
His colour sensibility, drawn from Reni and filtered through Roman experience, gives even his most dramatically lit compositions a warmth that separates him from the colder tenebrism of other Caravaggisti. He died in 1699, at eighty-six, having worked across Italy and Malta for nearly seven decades.
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