Artwork
Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, with Two Benedictine Nuns
Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, with Two Benedictine Nuns is a tempera painting by the Venetian Renaissance artist Jacobello del Fiore. It dates from 1425 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Their presence underscores the work’s devotional function and links the scene to monastic patronage, likely commissioned for a Benedictine context.
The painting depicts the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, a third-century Roman deacon known for his steadfast faith under persecution. According to early Christian tradition, Lawrence was sentenced to death by gridiron, a form of execution that became a central iconographic motif in visual representations of his martyrdom.
Two Benedictine nuns appear at the lower edge of the composition, kneeling in prayer. Their presence underscores the work’s devotional function and links the scene to monastic patronage, likely commissioned for a Benedictine context. The juxtaposition of the saint’s suffering with the nuns’ pious witness emphasizes the spiritual efficacy of intercession and the enduring legacy of martyrdom in Christian tradition.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in tempera on a wooden panel, measuring 38 cm in height by 70.5 cm in width. Jacobello del Fiore renders the martyrdom of Lawrence of Rome with a restrained linearism and flat, luminous coloration characteristic of early 15th‑century Venetian panel painting, while the inclusion of two Benedictine nuns adds a devotional narrative element. The composition balances narrative clarity with ornamental detail, reflecting the stylistic conventions of the period.
History & Provenance
Jacobello del Fiore created the tempera panel painting Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, with Two Benedictine Nuns in 1425. Produced in Venice, the work depicts the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence and includes two Benedictine nuns. While primarily attributed to Jacobello del Fiore, some records also associate Giovanni di Paolo with its creation.
The painting's ownership history includes tenure at the Führermuseum before entering the collection of the Stichting Nederlands Kunstbezit. It is currently held by the Rijksmuseum as part of the Dienst Verspreide Rijkscollecties.
Context
Jacobello del Fiore created the 1425 tempera panel Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, with Two Benedictine Nuns in Venice, a work that exemplifies the International Gothic style prevalent in early 15th-century Venetian religious art. The painting depicts the martyrdom of Lawrence of Rome and includes two Benedictine nuns, reflecting specific devotional interests of the period. While some records associate Giovanni di Paolo with the work, the primary attribution remains with Jacobello del Fiore, whose career flourished during a transitional phase in Venetian painting.
The panel's dimensions of 38 cm by 70.5 cm and its religious subject matter align with the altarpiece traditions of the era. Its provenance includes the Führermuseum and the Stichting Nederlands Kunstbezit, indicating a complex history of collection and dispersal before reaching the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
Created circa 1425 by the Venetian artist Jacobello del Fiore, this tempera panel portrays the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence. The composition centers on the saint’s body laid upon a metal grate amid flames, while two cloistered women in Benedictine habit observe the scene. A floating Latin inscription and a small haloed figure complete the narrative elements, all preserved today in the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacobello del Fiore (c. 1370 – 1439) was a Venetian painter in the late fourteenth century and early fifteenth century. His early work is in the Late Gothic style popularized by Altichiero da Verona and Jacopo Avanzi,…
Het martelaarschap van Sint-Laurentius, met twee benedictinessen
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