Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence
1722
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1722
gouache
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This scene shows a chaotic crowd in front of a stone building with arches above. A man lies on the ground, roasting over a fire, while others around him react—some look away, others watch. Two women in long robes stand near the fire, holding staffs. Above them, angels float in the sky, holding wreaths and looking down. The drawing uses soft browns and whites, with sharp lines for drama. The roasted man is Saint Lawrence, a martyr burned alive for his faith. The angels symbolize his soul rising to heaven, while the crowd shows the brutality of his death. Look up Baroque to see how this drama fits into the bold, emotional style of the era.
![The Martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/a51e90060085a207/thumb.webp)
