16th

century

Oil on panel

Italian

The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence

Balducci, Giovanni, Il Cosci (c.1560-after 1631)

This picture is typical of Florentine late mannerism with its strong colour, exaggerated poses and general feeling of elegance, even when the subject matter is violent. This is a contrast to the way Venetians such as Titian and Tintoretto (q.v.) treated the same subject. Saint Lawrence, traditionally martyred in AD 258, is largely a mythical figure. His gruesome method of martyrdom by roasting on a gridiron has no substance in fact. He was a popular Saint in the late Middle Ages and one of the most memorable series of scenes from his life was painted by Fra Angelico (d.1455) for Pope Nicolas V in the Vatican, Rome. The painting is likely to date from the artist’s Florentine period as one of the figures on the right is clearly recognisable as a portrait of Francesco de’Medici (1541-1587), who ruled as Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1574 until his death. It is also possible, therefore, that this was a Medici commission.

Schorr Collection, UK / © The Schorr Collection / Bridgeman Images

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