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Which Christian rites did Nicolas Poussin depict in his Seven Sacraments series?
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Nicolas Poussin
Adoration of the Golden Calf, oil on canvas by Nicolas Poussin, c. 1634. 153.4 × 211.8 cm.
In his Seven Sacraments series, Nicolas Poussin depicted the seven rites recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as essential sacraments. These rites, which Poussin portrayed as they would have appeared in early Christian times, include:
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- The Eucharist
- Reconciliation (or confession)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the sick
- Holy orders
Poussin produced two distinct sets of these paintings: the first for his patron Pozzo in the late 1630s and a second, more monumental set for Paul Fréart de Chantelou between 1644 and 1648.1234