Book XXIV.4. Hieronymus, King of Syracuse, put to death by his subjects {Tertiae Decadis Liber Quartus p. CXXV} 1493

Curator: This image, titled "Book XXIV.4. Hieronymus, King of Syracuse, put to death by his subjects," depicts a violent scene with stark clarity. Editor: My first impression is how the woodcut's simplicity amplifies the brutality of the event. The king's assassination is portrayed with disturbing directness. Curator: Exactly. Consider how the artist, though anonymous, uses the medium to convey a powerful message about power and its consequences. The figures are rendered with a functional precision, emphasizing action over individual character. Editor: And the material itself—wood—gives the scene a certain weightiness. The crude lines speak to the labor involved in the making of the print and the ready availability of such images to a broader public. Curator: Absolutely. The scene speaks volumes about class, power, and justice within the social strata of Syracuse. Editor: A potent reminder of the material and social conditions that inform every artwork. Curator: It's a striking glimpse into how social upheaval can be both recorded and disseminated through accessible art forms. Editor: Indeed, a grim but compelling intersection of history, labor, and image.