Marteling van een heilige

Art Historical Context

"Marteling van een heil" (Martyrdom of a), created by Italian Baroque master Mattia Preti between 1656 and 1660, captures the intense drama characteristic of Counter-Reformation art. Preti, often called the "Knight of Malta" for his long residence on the island, drew inspiration from Caravaggio's tenebrism—using stark contrasts of light and shadow to heighten emotional impact. This small-scale work on paper (268 × 240 mm) likely served as a preparatory drawing, a common practice among Baroque artists to refine compositions for grand altarpieces or frescoes depicting saints' heroic sufferings. ...

About the Artist

Mattia Preti · 1613–1699

Italian painter. Comment on works: Portraits; Religious; Genre