Who painted The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr?

The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr was painted by Cornelis Cort in 1567.

Where can I see The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr?

The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr?

The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr

Cornelis Cort , 1567

The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Cornelis Cort. It dates from 1567 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Cornelis Cort, a Dutch engraver who worked in Italy under the name Cornelio Fiammingo, produced an engraving titled *The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr* in 1567. Executed on laid paper, the print belongs to the religious genre and records the violent death of the 13th‑century Dominican preacher, Saint Peter Martyr, whose martyrdom was a popular subject in Counter‑Reformation art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures the moment of the saint’s killing in a forest clearing. A figure on the right lifts a weapon, while a central figure kneels with his hands near his chest, suggesting a gesture of prayer or surrender. A third man on the left throws his arms outward, reacting to the act. The scene emphasizes the cruelty of the murder and the saint’s steadfast faith amid violence.

Technique & Style

Cort employs dense, dark lines and cross‑hatching to model forms and convey movement, creating a dramatic chiaroscuro that heightens emotional tension.

Cort employs dense, dark lines and cross‑hatching to model forms and convey movement, creating a dramatic chiaroscuro that heightens emotional tension. The engraved textures differentiate foliage, human bodies, and sky, while fine shading suggests depth within the wooded setting. This meticulous line work exemplifies mid‑16th‑century Northern European printmaking, where the artist could render complex narratives on a single sheet of paper.

History & Provenance

The print reflects Cort’s twelve‑year Italian period, during which he collaborated with leading painters and disseminated their compositions through prints. Though originally produced for a devotional market, surviving copies have entered museum collections, documenting the spread of religious imagery across Europe in the late Renaissance. Its attribution to Cort is confirmed by his signature and the stylistic hallmarks of his workshop.

Artist & collection

Artist

Cornelis Cort

Cornelis Cort (c. 1533 – c. 17 March 1578) was a Dutch engraver and draughtsman. He spent the last 12 years of his life in Italy, where he was known as Cornelio Fiammingo.