Artwork

The Burning of the Prague Charterhouse and the Persecution of the Carthusians

The Burning of the Prague Charterhouse and the Persecution of the Carthusians is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Vincenzo Carducci. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Technique & Style

Created in 1632, Vincenzo Carducci's The Burning of the Prague Charterhouse and the Persecution of the Carthusians is executed in oil paint on a canvas support.

Created in 1632, Vincenzo Carducci's The Burning of the Prague Charterhouse and the Persecution of the Carthusians is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 337.5 cm in height and 298.5 cm in width, classifying it as a large-scale religious painting. Stylistically, the piece falls within the genre of religious art and is noted for its depiction of weapons amidst the narrative of persecution.

The painting is currently housed in the Museo del Prado, having been transferred from the Museo de la Trinidad collection.

History & Provenance

The work titled The Burning of the Prague Charterhouse and the Persecution of the Carthusians was created in 1632 by Vincenzo Carducci. It is an oil on canvas painting measuring 337.5 cm by 298.5 cm. The artwork entered the collection of the Museo del Prado and the Museo de la Trinidad, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to its original commission, though specific ownership transfers are not detailed in the sources.

The painting is housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, listed under its inventory as P009686. It has been displayed in the museum’s exhibition of Spanish religious art, including the 2003 exhibition "Spanish Masters of the Golden Age," which featured works from the museum’s 17th‑century collection.

The work measures 337.5 cm by 298.5 cm and was created in 1632.

Legacy

The Burning of the Prague Charterhouse and the Persecution of the Carthusians, painted in 1632 by Vincenzo Carducci, is recognized as a significant religious work that illustrates the violent suppression of the Carthusian order in Prague. Its dramatic portrayal of ecclesiastical conflict has been cited in art historical surveys as influencing later depictions of religious persecution, particularly in Central European religious art of the 17th and 18th centuries. The painting’s presence in major institutional collections, including the Museo del Prado, has contributed to its scholarly attention and reinforced its reputation as a key example of Counter-Reformation-era religious narrative painting.

Overview

Vincenzo Carducci’s 1632 oil painting, The Burning of the Prague Charterhouse and the Persecution of the Carthusians, portrays a violent episode involving Carthusian monks. The canvas captures monks in white habits confronting armed aggressors, a building ablaze, and a figure suspended in the sky, all set beneath a cloudy, treelike horizon.

Subject & Meaning

The work dramatizes the historical assault on the Prague Charterhouse, emphasizing the monks’ suffering and steadfastness. One monk clutches a staff while another folds his hands, suggesting both resistance and prayer amid chaos. The composition underscores themes of religious persecution and the clash between spiritual devotion and worldly violence.