Estimates do not reflect the final hammer price and do not include buyer's premium, any applicable taxes or artist's resale right. Please see the Conditions of Sale for full details.
The martyrdom of Saint Lucy takes place amongst a multitude of figures, arranged across several levels of the picture plane. The composition of the scene is dominated by a diagonal, from the soldier with his arm outstretched holding a dagger at lower right, across the saint, to the statue of Diana at upper left. The way the soldier with his elaborate headdress turns his head to the viewer leads one to speculate whether this is in fact Bellange's self-portrait. The statue of Diana, Roman goddess of the hunt and chastity, holds in her hand a smoking oil lamp. The presence of the statue symbolises Lucy's virtues, while the burning lamp is a direct reference to the etymology of Lucy's name, meaning 'way of light' (lucis via). According to the Legenda Aurea by Jacopo da Voragine - a collection of hagiographies, widely popular in Medieval Europe - Lucy suffered her martyrdom in Syracuse, probably during the Diocletianic persecution. She was denounced by her fiancé to the Roman consul Paschasius, because she distributed her wealth to the poor in gratitude for a miracle of Saint Agatha. The Roman consul condemned her to countless tortures - including to be dragged by oxen to a brothel, burning her alive, boiling her in oil, etc. - all of which she miraculously survived. Eventually, she succumbed to a stab of a dagger to her throat. In Bellange's large and virtuoso etching, the saint is depicted with her hands tied, as the dagger is plunged into her neck. She is depicted with her eyes still open, thus following the account in the Legenda Aurea that she only died after Diocletian was overthrown and peace restored. The silhouettes and traits of many of the figures in the present composition resemble the cast of the other larger prints by Bellange. The overall arrangement of the figures may have been inspired by Anton Eisenhout's engraving of the Ecce Homo after Taddeo Zuccaro, while Bellange's figures as such are closely related to the Northern Mannerist style of Jan Muller's engravings after Bartholomeus Spranger (Bartsch 1 & 69). The present sheet is the very early impression of the print (from the Prouté Collection, Paris), described by Griffiths and Hartley (1997, p. 73) as having 'smudgy margins' and lacking 'some of the burnishing found in later impressions.
Related Articles
Sorry, we are unable to display this content. Please check your connection.
You have agreed to be bound by the Conditions of Sale and if your bid is successful, you are legally obliged to pay for the lot you have won. The purchase price for a successful bid will be the sum of your final bid plus a buyer’s premium, any applicable taxes and any artist resale royalty, exclusive of shipping-related expenses.
Condition report
A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.
The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
In addition to the catalogue description: - with 2-3 mm. margins on all sides. - a small thin spot and a skilfully backed tear (approx. 40 mm.) at the upper left corner. - two tiny paper losses in the lower margin at left, and a small paper loss at the centre left sheet edge, outside the subject. - some small pale brown stains and foxmarks in places, mainly visible in the blank area at top and at upper right. - some minor thin spots in the upper half of the sheet and along the sheet edges. - with the usual horizontal, central fold, and some soft creases above and below it. - two diagonal and one horizontal printer's creases in the lower half of the sheet. - a couple of tiny abrasions at the extreme right sheet edge in places. - a narrow strip of paper hinging tape along the right sheet edge verso, smaller paper hinges at the upper and lower left corners verso. Otherwise as described and in very good condition, especially for a sheet of this size, mounted and unframed.
Cost calculator
Lot 68Sale 22904
The Martyrdom of Saint LucyJACQUES BELLANGE (1575-1616)Estimate: GBP 20,000 - 30,000
Enter your bid amount for an estimated cost
Bid amount
Please enter numbers onlyAmount must be higher than the starting bidAmount must be higher than the current bid
Buyer's premium
Loss, damage and liability
Shipping
Estimated Excise Duty
Artist Resale Royalty
Estimated total cost exclusive of customs duties/charges and tariffs