Martyrdom of Saint Agatha
Dublin Core
Title
Martyrdom of Saint Agatha
Description
"From a large number of initials cut from choir-books, attributed to the miniaturist active in Lombardy in the decades around and after 1500, some are signed B. F. (or B.). The identification of the artist is controversial. Wescher would like to recognize Francesco Binasco in him and resolve the signature as "Binasco fecit".
Characteristic are the pronounced drawing style with strange bulging broken folds and the hair treatment ending in the finest curls. The ubiquitous Leonardesque influence in Milan is particularly noticeable in the faces.
The initial D, formed from horns with colored leaves and a blue leaf mask on the stem, depicts the martyrdom of St. Agatha shown. Because she did not want to renounce her faith, both her breasts were cut off (legenda aurea) after a number of tortures at the behest of Prefect Quintinian, who is enthroned with the judge's staff on the left. Her tormentors have tied her to an 'ancient' pillar (which may have been the support of a pagan idol) with her arms raised, and a henchman is setting the knife. In the background, the crenellated wall of Catania delimits the place of execution."
16,2 x 16,8 cm
Characteristic are the pronounced drawing style with strange bulging broken folds and the hair treatment ending in the finest curls. The ubiquitous Leonardesque influence in Milan is particularly noticeable in the faces.
The initial D, formed from horns with colored leaves and a blue leaf mask on the stem, depicts the martyrdom of St. Agatha shown. Because she did not want to renounce her faith, both her breasts were cut off (legenda aurea) after a number of tortures at the behest of Prefect Quintinian, who is enthroned with the judge's staff on the left. Her tormentors have tied her to an 'ancient' pillar (which may have been the support of a pagan idol) with her arms raised, and a henchman is setting the knife. In the background, the crenellated wall of Catania delimits the place of execution."
16,2 x 16,8 cm
Date
c. 1500-25
Contributor
Staatliche Museum, Berlin
https://id.smb.museum/object/1051992/initiale-d-mit-martyrium-der-hl--agathe
https://id.smb.museum/object/1051992/initiale-d-mit-martyrium-der-hl--agathe
Collection
Citation
“Martyrdom of Saint Agatha,” European Mastectomy, accessed May 24, 2026, https://european-mastectomy.artinterp.org/items/show/71.