The Torment of the Ten Thousand Christians
1508 | Albrecht Dürer
According to legend, the Roman Emperor Hadrian had recruited the pagan prince Achatius with all his nine thousand men. Angels promised them victory as a result of which they became Christians. The converted men withstood all torment so steadfastly, however, that one thousand of their adversaries joined their ranks, all of them ultimately perishing as martyrs. Dürer depicted himself in the centre of the painting as a detached observer accompanied by the recently deceased humanist Conrad Celtis.
According to legend, the Roman Emperor Hadrian had recruited the pagan prince Achatius with all his nine thousand men. Angels promised them victory as a result of which they became Christians. The converted men withstood all torment so steadfastly, however, that one thousand of their adversaries joined their ranks, all of them ultimately perishing as martyrs. Dürer depicted himself in the centre of the painting as a detached observer accompanied by the recently deceased humanist Conrad Celtis.
Artist:
Albrecht Dürer (1471 Nürnberg - 1528 Nürnberg) DNB
Depiction/Person:
Albrecht Dürer (1471 Nürnberg - 1528 Nürnberg) DNB
Time:
1508
Object Name
Painting
Culture
German
Material/technology:
Transferred from wood to canvas in the early 19th century
Dimensions:
Overall: 99 cm × 87,5 cm × 2,5 cm
Framed: 122,5 cm × 111 cm × 8 cm
Signed
Inscribed on the note in Dürer's hand: Iste fatiebat ano domini 1508 alberto Dürer aleman; and the monogram
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 835
Provenance
1600 acquired by Rudolf II.