Artwork

Het martelaarschap van de zeven broers, de zonen van de heilige Felicitas

Het martelaarschap van de zeven broers, de zonen van de heilige Felicitas is an unspecified painting by the High Baroque Italian artist Francesco Trevisani. It dates from 1709 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Overview

The canvas depicts the martyrdom of Saint Felicity and her seven sons, a scene commissioned by a leading Roman cardinal as a diplomatic gift for a French minister and his wife, Catherine Félicité. The work centers on the saint in a vivid yellow robe, witnessing the execution of her children before facing her own beheading.

Subject & Meaning

Saint Felicity, a Christian martyr, is portrayed enduring the loss of her seven sons, who are shown being slain by soldiers while a crowd observes beneath a foreboding sky. The composition underscores themes of steadfast faith and maternal sacrifice, reflecting the devotional significance attached to the saint’s name by the French patrons.

Technique & Style

The painter employs dramatic chiaroscuro to heighten the tension between the illuminated figures and the darkened background. Precise rendering of the soldiers’ weapons and the emotional expressions of the onlookers convey a narrative intensity characteristic of early‑18th‑century Baroque religious painting.

Context

In a rare self‑referential gesture, the artist inserts himself twice within the scene: first as the standing figure on the left edge of the composition, and again as the man peering from behind the statue on the right, inviting viewers to contemplate the act of witnessing.

History & Provenance

The work originated as a diplomatic present from the Roman cardinal to the French couple whose names honored Saint Felicity. Its provenance traces back to this 18th‑century exchange, linking the painting to both ecclesiastical patronage in Rome and the cultural milieu of the French court.

The Martyrdom of the Seven Sons of Saint Felicity, Francesco Trevisani

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Artist & collection

Artist

Francesco Trevisani

Francesco Trevisani (April 9, 1656 – July 30, 1746) was an Italian painter, active in the period called either early Rococo or late Baroque (barochetto).