Caption

The Martyrdom of St. John of Nepomuk, Szymon Czechowicz 1689–1775, ca. 1750. Oil painting, 61 x 86.5 cm. At night, soldiers in Roman robes throw a young priest in a black cassock, white surplice, and a cape made of dormouse from a three-span stone bridge. Four putti float above the water, three holding keys, a laurel wreath, and a sealed letter; the last one points a finger to the sky. On the bridge, besides soldiers armed with pikes, two old men left and two young men right discuss the matter; one observes the martyrdom, another rides a horse. Executed in brown and grey tones; multi-figure martyrdom scene depicting St. John of Nepomuk., A painted scene shows a stone bridge spanning dark water under a cloudy sky, with a group of figures standing along the bridge parapet and several winged cherubs floating below. The central figure, wearing light grey and black garments, leans backward over the parapet with arms outstretched and is surrounded by men in metal helmets and varied colored clothing who appear to be holding or restraining him; one man on the right sits on a white horse and another holds a long pole. On the left side of the bridge several older-looking figures in muted earth-toned robes watch. Below the central figure a group of cherubs with pale skin and small wings hover and reach upward, draped with flowing ribbons and cloth in blue, pink, yellow, and green; one cherub holds a leafy branch while another holds a small pale object. The bridge is rendered in beige and grey tones with darker shaded arches, and the overall palette includes browns, greys, blues, greens, muted reds, yellow, and pale flesh tones.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A16_453

License type

Rights managed

Available size

45.8Mb (3.9Mb) / 15.8in x 11.3in / 4737 x 3376 (300dpi)

Keywords

Martyrdom St John Nepomuk Szymon Czechowicz 1689–1775 ca 1750 Oil painting night soldiers Roman robes throw young priest black cassock white surplice cape dormouse three-span stone bridge Four putti float water three holding keys laurel wreath sealed letter last points finger sky bridge besides soldiers armed pikes two old men left two young men right discuss matter observes martyrdom another rides horse Executed brown grey tones multi-figure martyrdom scene depicting painted scene stone bridge spanning dark water under cloudy sky group figures standing bridge parapet several winged cherubs floating central figure wearing light grey black garments leans backward parapet arms outstretched surrounded men metal helmets varied colored clothing restraining man right sits white horse another holds long pole left side bridge several older-looking figures muted earth-toned watch cherubs pale skin small wings hover reach upward draped flowing ribbons cloth blue pink yellow green cherub holds leafy branch small pale object rendered beige darker shaded arches palette includes browns greys blues greens muted reds pale flesh tones.