Jan van de Venne, Saints Crispin and Crispinian

First half of the 17th century
Oil on panel
Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de Besançon

Crispin and Crispinian learned to make and repair shoes to support themselves in Soissons. In this rigidly pagan city they were able to spread the word of Christianity by talking individually with people who came to them for help with footwear. Like this one, most portraits show them in their workshop with their shoes and tools. This example is unusual in catching the two in a moment of contemplation.

Read more about images of Saints Crispin and Crispinian.

Source: this page at Wikimedia Commons.