Search

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Simon the Zealot. The image shows Simon being led towards a prepared cross, the spikes to be used to nail him down prepared in a basket in the foreground.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist. The image shows Matthew nailed to the ground by both his hands and feet as an executioner stands above him wielding an axe and preparing to behead him.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Thomas the Apostle. The image shows Thomas led towards a large furnace by a groupof four spearmen as a king looks on from the back of an elephant.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. The image shows Bartholomew tied upsidedown to an X-shaped cross while two men flay him with knives before a crowd of onlookers, while in the foreground, a headsman's ax sits ready to behead him.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Andrew the Apostle. The image shows Andrew bound with rope to an X-shaped cross while a crowd watches.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Paul the Apostle. The image shows Paul kneeling and blindfolded with hands together in prayer as the executioner unsheathes his sword and looks back towards Emperor Nero, who stands atop a wall in the background (upper left).

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Peter the Apostle. The image shows Peter crucified upsidedown as Emperor Nero watches from horseback in the background.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Mark the Evangelist. The image shows Marc being dragged with ropes and hooks.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Barnabas. The image shows Barnabas being dragged by a rope around his neck towards a fire which is being built in the background.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint James the Less. The image shows James kneeling with hands raised in prayer as a crowd stones and beats him.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint Phillip the Apostle. The image shows Philip standing against a pillar with hands raised in prayer as he looks away from the crowd which is stoning him to death.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of Saint James the Greater. The image shows James kneeling, blindfolded and with hands held in prayer, as a soldier prepares to decapitate him.

An engraving depicting the martyrdom of St. Stephan. The image shows Stephen kneeling outside the gates of Jerusalem as a crowd stones him to death.

An engraving depicting the decapitation of John the Baptist. The scene shows a guard holding the bindings around the arms of John, whose body lays on the floor of the dungeon bleeding from the neck as the executioner walks towards the guarded door with John's head on a platter.

An engraving depicting Jesus being nailed to the cross. A soldier holds Jesus whil two workmen drive nails into his feet and left hand. To the left are the two thieves who are to be crucified alongside Jesus, Gestas and Dismas.

An engraved title page to Jean Luiken's Theatre des Martyrs. In the center, there is a depiction of several martyrdoms, including being boiled, being spun on a wheel across spikes, and burning at the stake, under which is the phrase, "per angusta ad augusta" (from crisis to glory). Forming a border around the title information is a collection of weapons and instruments of torture which are related to various martyrdoms, including: swords, maces, spears, arrows, axes, clubs, halberds, flails, saws, knives, chains, manacles, torches, mallets, anchors, and a crown of thorns.

An engraving depicting a pair of apostles and a pair of bishops flanking a decorated throne above which sits a radiant dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Below the image is the passage, "semper apostolicae cathedrae viguit principatus," (the primacy of the apostolic seat has always flourished) from the Epistle 43 of St. Augustine.

An ornamental tailpiece depicting a face (possibly a mask) surrounded by floral and vegetal decoration.

An ornamental tailpiece depicting a pair of winged centaurs surrounded by floral and vegetal decoration.

An engraving depicting Jesus leading the Apostles, with a hand on Peter's back, towards St. Peter's Basilica. Below the image is a passage from Matthew 16, "Super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam" (On this rock I will build my church).

A pair of engravings depicting condemned heretics performing an auto-da-fé, or act of faith, as penance prior to being burned at the stake during the Inquisition (top) and condemned heretics during the Inquisition being publically burnt at the stake (bottom).