Burning of a Heretic 1426

"Burning of a Heretic" (c. 1426) by Il Sassetta (Stefano di Giovanni) depicts a dramatic scene of a man being burned at the stake. The painting is a small-scale work (24 x 38 cm), but it conveys a powerful sense of the religious fervor and violence of the time period. The scene unfolds against a backdrop of a bustling crowd, with a figure of a devil flying overhead. Il Sassetta's attention to detail and use of vivid color helps bring this scene to life, making it one of the most iconic depictions of this event from the 15th century. This artwork is housed in the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia.