02 Works, Interpretation of the bible, St. Blandina in the Amphitheater of Lyon, by Emilio Magistretti and Jules-Antoine Duvaux, with Footnotes #213

Emilio Magistretti (1851-1935)

Martyrdom of Saint Blandina of Lyon, c. about 1900

Oil on canvas

319x169 cm. (Inv. 705).

Milan, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

Emilio Magistretti (1851 in Milan – 1936) was an Italian painter.

Magistretti studied at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts from 1871 to 1875 under the guidance of Francesco Hayez and then accompanied him on his Italian journey of 1879. He worked initially in a range of different areas, from genre scenes to religious subjects and perspective painting, and successfully tried his hand at painting portraits, animals and landscapes at the turn of the century. He began to establish his reputation as an artist in 1880, when he was awarded a prize by the Ministry of Education, and became well known as a painter of moderately naturalistic portraits particularly appreciated by the middle-class establishment. An autobiography richly illustrated with reproductions of his most celebrated works was published in 1926. More on Emilio Magistretti

Saint Blandina (French: Blandine, died 177 AD) was a Christian during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. She belonged to the band of martyrs of Lyon who, after some of their number had endured frightful tortures, suffered martyrdom in 177 AD

While the imperial legate was away, the chiliarch, a military commander, and the duumvir, a civil magistrate, threw a number of Christians, who confessed their faith, into prison. When the legate returned, the imprisoned believers were brought to trial. Among these Christians was Blandina, a slave, who had been taken into custody along with her master, also a Christian. But although the legate caused her to be tortured in a horrible manner, so that even the executioners became exhausted "as they did not know what more they could do to her", still she remained faithful and repeated to every question "I am a Christian, and we commit no wrongdoing.

Blandina was subjected to new tortures with a number of companions in the town's amphitheater (now known as the Amphitheatre of the Three Gauls) at the time of the public games. She was bound to a stake and wild beasts were set on her. According to legend, they did not, however, touch her. After enduring this for a number of days she was led into the arena to see the sufferings of her companions. Finally, as the last of the martyrs, she was scourged, placed on a red-hot grate, enclosed in a net and thrown before a wild steer who tossed her into the air with his horns, and at last killed with a dagger. More on Blandina

Jules-Antoine Duvaux

Blandina in the Amphitheater of Lyon

Oil on canvas

92,2 x 73,5 cm ; 36 1/4 by 29 in.

Private collection

Jules-Antoine Gilles Duvaux, born on the 12 January 1818 In Bordeaux and died on 6 July 1884 In Paris, was a French painter, draftsman and engraver.

A student of Charlet, Jules Antoine Devaux specializes in painting battles, decorum and military costumes. His first exhibition dates from 1848, at the Salon des artistes français, where he presents Charge de cuirassiers in Valmy, which won the gold medal. In 1857, he presented The Assault of Sevastopol (National Museum of the Castles of Versailles and Trianon).

He undertook a trip to Sicily in 1859, returning with watercolors and drawings; Souvenirs de Sicily, which he exhibited at the Salon of 1863. He exhibited regularly until 1884. More on Jules-Antoine Gilles Duvaux

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