Artwork
The Martyrdom of the Mauerbach Carthusians
The Martyrdom of the Mauerbach 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
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the martyrdom of the Mauerbach Carthusians, a specific religious event central to the work's identity.
The painting depicts the martyrdom of the Mauerbach Carthusians, a specific religious event central to the work's identity. As a religious genre piece created in 1632, the composition visually narrates the suffering of these monks. The iconography includes the presence of weapons, which serve as the instruments of violence against the religious figures.
The scene also incorporates representations of paintings and sculptures within the depicted environment, suggesting the destruction or context of sacred art during the persecution. Through these elements, the work represents the violent confrontation between faith and aggression, memorializing the specific historical tragedy of the Carthusian community.
Technique & Style
Vincenzo Carducci executed The Martyrdom of the Mauerbach Carthusians in 1632 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 336 cm in height and 297 cm in width, classifying it as a large-scale religious painting. As a significant example of religious art from the early 17th century, the composition depicts a dramatic scene involving weapons, alongside representations of painting and sculpture within the narrative. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
History & Provenance
The Martyrdom of the Mauerbach Carthusians was created by Vincenzo Carducci in 1632, executed in oil paint on canvas. The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, and is also associated with the holdings of the Museo de la Trinidad. Its current location is the Museo del Prado, where the work remains part of the museum's collection.
The sources document the painting's creation date and institutional ownership but do not provide further details on the original commission, the circumstances of its production, or the chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the Museo de la Trinidad and subsequent transfer to the Museo del Prado.
The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It was previously housed at the Museo de la Trinidad before its incorporation into the Prado's holdings. The work measures 336 cm in height by 297 cm in width.
Overview
Vincenzo Carducci, an Italian-born artist active in Spain, completed an oil painting titled The Martyrdom of the Mauerbach Carthusians in 1632. Executed during the early Baroque period, the work portrays a violent encounter involving monks and armed assailants. The canvas is part of the permanent collection of Madrid’s Museo del Prado.
Context
The work belongs to the early Baroque movement, which favored emotional intensity and dramatic lighting. Carducci, trained in the Italian tradition, adapted these qualities to Spanish religious commissions, aligning with contemporary Counter‑Reformation themes that emphasized the suffering of holy figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Vincenzio Carduccio (in Spanish, sometimes Vicencio or Vicente Carducho; 1576 or 1578–1638) was an Italian painter who spent his career in Spain.
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