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The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew

Jacques Callot

1634

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew is a 1634 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1634 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

The painting depicts a dramatic scene of Saint Bartholomew's martyrdom. The saint is shown being flayed alive, with his skin being pulled off his body. A group of people are gathered around him, watching in horror. In the background, a cityscape is visible, with buildings and towers rising up. The overall mood of the painting is one of intense drama and emotion. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume, drawing the viewer's eye into the scene. The technique of etching on laid paper adds a level of detail and texture to the image. You might want to look up more works by the artist, Callot, Jacques.