Martyrdom of Saint Martina
c. 1665
Etching on cream laid paper
23.3 × 33.2 cm (9.2 × 13.1 in)
SEE IT IN PERSON
Not currently on view
In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026
Discussion
FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG
A talented painter and stucco decorator, Antonio Gherardi made relatively few prints. Among the first works of his career was a six-part etching series narrating the martyrdom of Saint Martina. In this fourth scene, Martina, after her refusal to worship the pagan gods, is tortured with iron rods that eventually will inflict 118 wounds to her flesh. After continued torture, which included a bath in hot oil, she was beheaded. Her wounds were said to have bled milk, leading to her canonization as the patron saint of nursing mothers.
Be the first to share your thoughts.
Sign in to join the discussion.
More like this
Giulio Bonasone — Alexander Enthroned
Francesco Fontebasso — The Sacrifice of Polyxena, from "Bacc
Francesco Bartolozzi|Pietro da Cortona (Pietro Berrettini)|T
Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet|Louis Desplaces — Astyanax taken from
Christoph Metzger — Title page, 'Der Grossen Artillerie Feue
Zacharias Dolendo — Wine, from The Powers that Rule the Worl
Willem van Swanenburgh — Allegory of Justice, plate 11 from 
Philips Galle — Judith Displaying Holofernes's Head to the P
Giorgio Ghisi|Giulio Romano — Roman Soldiers Before an Emper
Willem van Swanenburgh — Alexander the Great as a Judge, pla
Jacques Callot — The Condemnation to Death, from The Small P
Pierre Lombart (French, 1612–1682) — Aeneid