Candlesticks of Christianity, sketch
1876 National Museum in Warsaw
About this artwork
This work is a preparatory sketch for Henryk Siemiradzki's monumental masterpiece, depicting the persecution of early Christians under Emperor Nero. It captures the initial composition and loose brushwork characteristic of his preliminary studies before the final grand-scale painting.
Did you know?
This sketch relates to one of the most famous Polish historical paintings of the 19th century, which depicted the horrific scene of Emperor Nero using Christians as human torches to light his gardens. The massive final painting was so celebrated that it brought the artist international fame and a medal at the Paris Salon, reflecting the 19th-century fascination with dramatic, often tragic, scenes from classical antiquity.
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Candlesticks of Christianity, sketch
Henryk Siemiradzki, 1876
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