Verbranding ondersteboven hangend en slaan 1565 - 1630

Antonio Tempesta produced this print, "Verbranding ondersteboven hangend en slaan," an engraving, in the Netherlands sometime around the turn of the 17th century. The image depicts an execution scene, a not-uncommon subject in early modern Europe. But it's the composed scene, the presence of what appear to be Roman architectural details, and the bare-chested executioners, all make this image more than just a depiction of violence. Here, Tempesta is clearly making reference to the classical past, to a visual language of power and authority. Of course, this was a period of religious conflict and state-sponsored violence. So, it’s worth asking: does the artist condone or critique the violence on display? To answer these kinds of questions we can turn to primary source documents like pamphlets, chronicles, and legal records to enrich our understanding. These help reveal the social and institutional forces that shape the creation and reception of art.