Manner of Sir Anthony van Dyck Two Apostles pastel 42 x 43cm Between 1610 and 1612, Rubens painted a series of 12 apostles that are now in the Prado and they must have inspired his pupil, Van Dyck, to copy the same idea. Van Dyck went overboard and there are dozens of paintings, some in groups, that show the apostles. They are discussed in great detail by Nora de Poorter in the catalogue raisonné published by Yale in 2004. All these are individual heads and none are double portraits like the present pastel. The figures in this pastel are similar to Simon and Jude (Judas Thaddeus) but they are by no means identical. The figure types are very similar, but the poses adjusted, and they are inspired by Van Dyck, but not copied from him. Condition report: 19th century. Small grey spots of foxing throughout. Also some large white spots, possibly mould or damp visible in the darker areas. A pale rubbed patch in the background, top centre, and some paler areas down the righthand edge. Not seen outside of glazed frame.