Saint Bartholomew c. 1595

Editor: Here we have Zacharias Dolendo’s "Saint Bartholomew," a small print from the late 16th century, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. He looks so contemplative. What can you tell me about the symbolism here? Curator: Notice how Bartholomew holds both a book and what appears to be a flaying knife? The book signifies his scholarship and evangelism. The knife, however, is a potent symbol of his martyrdom, flayed alive for his faith. Editor: So, these aren't just objects; they're visual representations of his life and death. Curator: Precisely. Dolendo uses these objects to compress Bartholomew’s story into a single, powerful image, evoking centuries of veneration and cultural memory. Editor: It's fascinating how much meaning is packed into such a small space! I will never look at an image of Bartholomew the same way again.