eBay

ORIGINAL 16th CENTURY ENGRAVING

by Giovanni Battista de CAVALIERI

Plate 15:

Martyrdom scenes with Pope Callistus being thrown off a wall into a cauldron in foreground, St Calepod's feet tied to horses and being dragged over the ground at left and then thrown in the River Tiber, St Martina being pierced by several swords in left background; letters A-C within composition indicating different scenes

Titled in top margin:

"Visi svnt ocvulis insipientvm mori. Sapie.3.". Lettered and numbered '15' in lower margin, with explanatory key in Latin.

the plate from

Ecclesiae militantis triumphi; sive, Deo amabilium martyrum gloriosa pro Christi fide certamina

by NICCOLO CIRCIGNANI

Engraved by Giovanni Battista Cavalieri after frescoes of martyrdom scenes by Circignani in the church of S. Stefano Rotondo in Rome

In the book of Giovanni Battista de' Cavalieri, published by Bartolomeo Grassi in 1585 in Rome, the martyrdom scenes in San Stefano Rotondo are reproduced along with their inscriptions, as if they were a catechism for the newly reformed church returning to its Early Christian roots.

The church of San Stefano Rotondo, which has an unusual round shape, is known for its frescoes depicting Christian martyrdom under the Roman empire. The frescoes, painted by a team lead by Niccolò Circignani known as il Pomarancio, show the different means by which Romans tortured early Christian martyrs.
The cycle of martyrs, as it became known, was commissioned by the German-Hungarian College of Jesuits, to which the church belongs, with the specific aim of educating their novices. During their novitiate in Rome (the training period given to decide whether or not to join the Church), trainee priests were isolated from the world to meditate on the life of Christ.

Size 8 1/3 by 11 1/2 (including margins)

Some wear, dampstain visible on the scans.

EXTREMELY RARE

Please see my other auctions

(9.20)

Thank You

Refund Policy: We will issue a FULL REFUND, 100% money back if you are not satisfied with your purchase. Items must be returned to us within 20 days in order to receive a refund or replacement. Buyer is responsible for shipping costs.