Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence (1621)
Original title: Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Vorsterman I made this engraving in 1621, showing Saint Lawrence in the midst of his execution. Surrounded by soldiers, the martyr stands on a wooden block. The print is an engraving and corresponds to the second state of two according to Hollstein.
Description
Lawrence, bound with chains and wearing a simple garment, stands on a wooden block. A soldier thrusts a burning spit toward him, while other soldiers and onlookers crowd around. An angel hovers above in the middle, and above that a divine figure sits enthroned. Figures in various directions of movement draw the eye to the saint. Dark tones and strong contrasts of light and shadow heighten the drama.
Context
The Flemish engraver Lucas Vorsterman I worked closely with Peter Paul Rubens. The print was made in Antwerp in 1621, when the Catholic Counter-Reformation favored depictions of martyrs. The motif follows the tradition that Lawrence met his death on a gridiron over glowing coals. Vorsterman's reproductive prints were widely circulated and carried religious imagery into many collections.
Impact
The dramatic lighting and the agitated arrangement of figures create a strong emotional impact. Horror and sublimity pervade the scene of martyrdom, as is characteristic of Baroque visual language.
Technique
In engraving, lines are incised into a copper plate. The second state suggests revisions or corrections to the plate. Fine hatching and lines produce graduated tonal values and render faces and muscles in detail.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)