Marteling van Georgius van Cappadocië c. 1686 - 1699

Editor: Here we have Valentin Lefebvre’s print, "The Martyrdom of George of Cappadocia," created sometime between 1686 and 1699. The sheer density of the composition is striking! All those figures, both heavenly and… well, decidedly earthly. Where do you even begin with a piece like this? What story do you think it is telling? Curator: Oh, it’s a tangled skein of stories within stories, isn't it? And the Baroque period just loved a good tangle. Lefebvre, I suspect, wasn't so much aiming for strict historical accuracy as he was exploring the emotional drama. Can't you just *feel* the chaos and the divine intervention all at once? Editor: Absolutely! I was initially drawn to the celestial figures swirling above the earthly chaos. Are they witnessing or intervening, do you think? Curator: Both, perhaps? Notice how that cherubic figure seems poised to deliver a laurel wreath. Even in the midst of martyrdom, there's a promise of glory. But look at the figures torturing St. George. Each one has a story etched on their face—doubt, malice, obedience… Lefebvre gives us access to their inner turmoil. Does that change your understanding of the piece at all? Editor: It does. I was focused on the visual drama, but now I see these torturers are part of the story, too, each with their reasons and hesitations. They become human, and the scene much more nuanced. Curator: Exactly! It makes me wonder about Lefebvre himself. What drove him to capture this scene with such complexity? Did he wrestle with his own faith and doubt as he etched these lines? One never knows... which, to me, makes it all the more powerful. Editor: This really offers so much to consider, visually and historically! I'm seeing it in a completely new light. Thanks so much!