Martelaarschap van H. Petrus Martyr 1630 - 1684

This drawing, "Martyrdom of St. Peter Martyr," was created by Domenico Maria Canuti in the 17th century, a time of religious and political upheaval in Europe. Canuti captures the emotional and physical intensity of martyrdom. But what does it mean to depict violence and call it sacred? How does the artist grapple with faith, power, and the human body? The figures in the drawing are caught in a moment of extreme vulnerability. The viewer is forced to confront questions about the cost of belief and the ways in which power is wielded in the name of religion. Canuti’s work invites us to reflect on the stories we tell about ourselves, our societies, and our gods. It challenges us to consider whose voices are amplified and whose are silenced in these narratives. This tension—between reverence and violence, visibility and erasure—resonates through the centuries, urging us to examine the complex relationship between faith, power, and representation.