Apostel Simon 1712 - 1786

This is Giovanni Marco Pitteri’s engraving of the Apostle Simon. His weathered face and furrowed brow convey a profound intensity, but it is the saw resting on his shoulder that speaks volumes. The saw is Saint Simon's attribute, signifying his martyrdom by being sawn in pieces. This emblem transcends mere representation; it is a potent symbol that carries centuries of cultural and religious weight. We see echoes of this brutal iconography in depictions of other martyred saints, each bearing the instrument of their suffering as a badge of honor and faith. Consider the recurring motif of the weapon—be it a sword, a wheel, or in this case, a saw. It serves not only as a narrative device, recounting the saint's final moments, but also as a visceral reminder of human suffering and the ultimate sacrifice. This symbol engages viewers on a subconscious level, tapping into our collective memory of pain, resilience, and the enduring power of belief. The saw, therefore, is not merely an object but a symbol of unwavering faith, a recurrent theme throughout art history, continually reshaped and reinterpreted across epochs.