Miracle of the Loaves (Jesus feeds the five thousand)

This work is a wonderful example of Dutch Mannerism from Bloemaert's early oeuvre. Christ, wearing a purple robe, is seated at the centre of the composition. He extends his arms towards Andrew, who holds a basket of loaves. Between them is the boy who had the five loaves initially. The Sea of Galilee, dotted with tiny bathers, is in the distance. The foreground is dominated by the dynamic and muscular figures that are typical of Dutch Mannerism. This work fills a major gap in the National Gallery of Scotland's holdings of Dutch and Flemish art.