Martelaarschap van de Heilige Bartholomeus 1632 - 1675

Jean Couvay created this engraving, “Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew”, sometime in the 17th century. The work depicts the graphic scene of Saint Bartholomew's martyrdom, a story of religious conviction turned brutal execution. Couvay situates us in a moment heavy with cultural and religious tension, where faith and power intersect with violence. Saint Bartholomew, is being flayed alive, a gruesome method of execution which speaks to the religious conflicts of the time. His suffering body becomes a site where theological differences play out. The act of martyrdom is not only a personal tragedy, but a public spectacle, reflecting the complex relationship between the individual, the church, and the state. Consider the emotional weight of this image. It serves as both a historical record and a reflection on the human capacity for violence and the endurance of faith in the face of extreme adversity.