Description
Saint Sebastien, a subject popular in the Renaissance and painted by Mantegna, is considered a martyr, or a person who suffers or dies for what they believe in. Many of the Christian Saints are martyrs, because they were put to death for their religious or political beliefs. For this assignment please find, post, and provide the title, artist, date, and material of another work of art that depicts a martyr. In addition, please state why the person depicted is a martyr. Your image need not represent a Biblical figure, although there are many examples of Biblical martyrs depicted in the history of art. Choose a work of art from any period of the history of art and any culture, as long as it depicts someone that you would consider a martyr according to the definition I have provided. Don’t forget to comment on the work of art and martyr another student in the class has chosen. Here is an example of mine.Gustave Moreau, L’Apparition, 1876, Oil on CanvasMoreau depicts Saint John the Baptist after he has been martyred by decapitation. Herod, pictured in the shadows, promises his step-daughter Salome anything she wants, if she will do the erotic dance of the seven veils for his pleasure. Upon completion of her task, she asks for the head of the Baptist on a silver platter as compensation. Though Herod was fearful of creating political unrest among a growing Christian population, he was forced to oblige. Here salome is haunted by her choice, and seems to longingly call out for him.
