Who painted Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas?

Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas was painted by Pierre II Woeiriot de Bouzey in 1566.

Where can I see Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas?

Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas?

Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas

Pierre II Woeiriot de Bouzey , 1566

Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Pierre II Woeiriot de Bouzey. It dates from 1566 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Heraclius Sentencing the Tyrant Phocas is a black‑and‑white engraving produced in 1566 by the French printmaker Woeiriot de Bouzey, also known as Pierre II. The work depicts a moment of judicial authority, rendered in the fine linear style typical of mid‑sixteenth‑century French engraving.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents two robed figures on a raised platform. The standing figure points decisively toward the seated individual, who bows his head, shield and sword at his side, suggesting a former ruler now stripped of power. The composition conveys the theme of political retribution and the transfer of authority.

Technique & Style

Woeiriot employs a dense network of incised lines to model light and shadow, creating a strong contrast that separates the principal characters from the surrounding crowd. The careful hatching gives volume to the drapery and emphasizes the dramatic gestures, a hallmark of Renaissance engraving.

History & Provenance

Created in 1566, the print reflects contemporary interest in the Byzantine episode of Heraclius’s triumph over Phocas. While the original metal plate’s whereabouts are unknown, surviving impressions have appeared in several European collections, documenting the work’s circulation among collectors of historical prints.

Context

The engraving belongs to a broader tradition of narrative prints that illustrated historical and literary subjects for a learned audience. In the mid‑1500s, French engravers frequently turned to classical and medieval episodes to comment on contemporary notions of justice and rulership.