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The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence

Luca Cambiaso

1581

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence is a 1581 ink by Luca Cambiaso, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Luca Cambiaso
When & what style?: 1581 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a chaotic scene with a crowd of people in rough, sketchy lines. Some figures are on the ground, others are reaching up or fighting. At the center, a man lies on a grid-like surface, his arms outstretched, while flames or smoke swirls above him. The artist used quick, uneven strokes to show movement and pain. The brown ink stands out against the blue paper, making the scene feel urgent. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.