Fishing for Souls (1614, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)

(One day Jesus Christ, walking along the shore of the Lake of Galilee, saw two boats moored to the shore, and fishermen on the shore were washing their nets. Among these fishermen was Simon Peter with his brother. Entering Peter’s boat, Christ asked him to sail a little from the shore. Sitting in the boat, He taught the people gathered near the lake. Having finished the sermon, the Lord turned to Peter. “Launch out into the deep,” He said to him, “and let down your nets for a catch.”

“Master,” Peter answered, “we have toiled all night and caught nothing, but at your word I will let down the net.” Peter immediately fulfilled the Lord’s command, and such a multitude of fish were caught that even the net was breaking. He signaled to his comrades in the other boat to come to the rescue, and with them they barely managed to pull in the catch. There was such an extraordinary amount of fish so many that, filled with it, both boats began to sink.

This miraculous catch of fish seized those present with holy horror. Everyone remained in mute amazement from the extraordinary miracle, and only Peter could not contain his excitement. The feeling of his own unworthiness was so great that he could not understand at all what the Lord wanted from him, a simple fisherman. “Depart from me, Lord! for I am a sinful man,” Peter cried, falling at the knees of Jesus. But the Lord calmed him and said: “Do not be afraid; follow me, and you will be fishers of men.” This was both a command and a promise. Both boats were pulled ashore, everything was left behind, and Peter and Andrew followed Christ.)

In this picture, two churches are competing for the souls of people. Perhaps the picture was a call for unity in the Protestant camp. On the left bank are the Protestants with the House of Orange, and on the right are the Catholics with Albert and Isabella of Austria. Van de Venne has depicted himself in the front of the left group, among the Protestants. There are other signs in the painting that show that Van de Venne was on the Protestant side: even the tree on the right is withered, while the tree on the left is full of life.