Artwork
Martyrdom of the Theban Legion
Martyrdom of the Theban Legion is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Anton Woensam. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Anton Woensam's painting depicts the martyrdom of the Theban Legion, a Roman military unit comprised of early Christians who, according to tradition, were massacred for refusing to renounce their faith. The work portrays two named ecclesiastical figures associated with the legend: Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne, and Gregorius Maurus, both linked to the veneration and commemoration of the Theban martyrs in the Rhineland.
As a religious image produced in 1520, the painting would have served devotional and commemorative purposes, reinforcing the cult of the Theban Legion that was particularly strong in Cologne and surrounding regions. The inclusion of Anno II and Gregorius Maurus anchors the scene within this local tradition, presenting the martyrs' sacrifice through the lens of figures who promoted and preserved their memory.
Technique & Style
The work serves as a religious depiction featuring figures such as Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne, and Gregorius Maurus.
Created in 1520, the Martyrdom of the Theban Legion is an oil painting executed by Anton Woensam. The work serves as a religious depiction featuring figures such as Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne, and Gregorius Maurus. Physically, the painting measures 134.8 cm in height and 103.7 cm in width. It is currently held within the collections of the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1520, the painting is attributed to Anton Woensam on internal documentation and by the Bavarian State Painting Collections’ records. The work is held by the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, forming part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Its dimensions are recorded as 134.8 cm in height and 103.7 cm in width. The commission and early provenance are otherwise undocumented in the provided sources.
Overview
Created in 1520 by German artist Anton Woensam, the Martyrdom of the Theban Legion is a religious work from the early Northern Renaissance. It is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection and illustrates the execution of a group of Christian soldiers, a subject drawn from the legend of the Theban Legion.
Context
The work belongs to a period when German artists were integrating detailed narrative content with emerging Renaissance techniques. Woensam’s background in wood engraving informed his precise rendering of textures and figures, aligning the painting with the broader shift toward realism in Northern art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anton Woensam (c.1493/1496 – c.1541) was a German painter and wood-engraver. Woensam was "probably" trained by his father Jaspar as a painter. He mainly created book illustrations. He relocated from Worms to Cologne in…
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