Le Naufrage de Jonas (Jonas' Wreck), 1600

Hailing from the Netherlands, Paul Bril (1553-1626) settled in Rome as soon as his training was finished. At the end of his life, he created a painting depicting a Biblical episode from the life of Jonah.
During a voyage at sea, Jonah's ship was struck by a violent storm. Black whirlwinds battered the ship, which veered dangerously close to the rocks. Two sailors were ready to throw Jonah to the sea, whilst a sea monster lurked in waiting. Swallowed by the monster fish, Jonah, who had betrayed God, was vomited up alive three days later, once he had repented.
Originally a fresco painter, Bril turned to easel painting at the end of the 16th century. He created landscapes that often featured mythological or Biblical scenes, with captivating and dramatic light effects. The use of tones and vivid contrasts gave his work a fantastic allure.