Hieronymus Wierix (1553-1619) Lot n° 41

Hieronymus Wierix (1553-1619) - The martyrdom of St Laurentius / Description: In this dramatic scene, the martyrdom of St Laurentius is portrayed. At the centre of the composition we encounter the almost naked martyr, who has just been placed on a large grid by soldiers. Eagerly they poke at the fire that is already beginning to lick at his flank. Emperor Decius, seated on horseback, along with hordes of soldiers, witnesses this torture that as a public event takes place in a city square. Laurentius raises his eyes to heaven, where he finds two cherubs with laurel wreaths waiting for him in heaven. Laurentius means as much as 'lauream tenens': the one holding the laurel wreath, referring to his victory over his martyrs through his suffering. The subscript extracted from Psalm 16:3 (17) of the Vulgate "Igne me examinasti et non est inuenta in me iniquitas" translates as "Thou hast tried me by fire: and iniquity hath not been found in me". / Dimensions: 10,20 x 6,70 cm / Condition: Very good condition, nice dark impression, trimmed outside the plate edges with margins. / Literature: Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1979 / Les Estampes des Wierix ... catalogue raisonné (1215) ------ Alvin 1866 / Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre des trois frères Jan, Jérome et Antoine Wierix (1002) / Medium: Engraving /Circa: Before 1619