Saint Bartholomew c. 1630

Jusepe de Ribera rendered Saint Bartholomew in paint, capturing the saint's likeness, forever intertwined with his martyrdom. Here, the knife is more than a tool; it's a symbol of Bartholomew's agonizing end—flayed alive for his faith. The knife as an instrument of martyrdom appears again and again, echoing through the centuries. Think of the beheadings of saints, the crushing of Saint Agatha’s breasts with pincers, or Saint Peter Martyr, whose head was split by a sword. Each weapon, each act, becomes a crystallized point of suffering and faith. The image taps into our collective memory, triggering feelings of fear and empathy. Ribera masterfully engages viewers on a primal level, reminding us of the profound connection between suffering, faith, and the enduring power of visual symbols that course through art history. This is the cyclical nature of symbols—reappearing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across time.