The artwork, titled “Martyrdom of Saint Apollonia, detail,” was crafted by Jean Fouquet between 1453 and 1456. It belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement and falls under the genre of religious painting. This piece is part of the “Hours of Etienne Chevalier” series.
In this scene, meticulously rendered with vibrant detail, a group of figures is depicted in a dramatic and chaotic setting. The central figure, presumably dressed in clerical blue and red, gestures emphatically while holding a book, possibly reciting or chanting liturgical text. Around him, multiple characters clad in rich, period-appropriate garments engage in various activities. The visual composition suggests a tumultuous event, heightened by the dynamic poses and expressions of the figures. The artwork’s intricate background, filled with numerous onlookers, provides depth and further emphasizes the intensity of the scene. The overall atmosphere is charged with tension, capturing the harrowing moment of Saint Apollonia’s martyrdom with remarkable precision and emotional weight.
