Marteling van Petrus 1745

John Baptist Jackson created this chiaroscuro woodcut, Marteling van Petrus, sometime in the 18th century. The print depicts the martyrdom of Saint Peter, a pivotal event in the establishment of the early Church. Jackson was an English artist working in Venice who sought to revive the art of the woodcut. This print emulates painting, using tone blocks to create a range of values and a dramatic, painterly effect. Italian Renaissance artists like Titian were very influential at this time and this print closely copies Titian’s painting of the same subject. Religious imagery had long been used to express spiritual and political ideas. During the 18th century, however, the authority of the Church began to decline and some started to question the traditional social order. Examining prints like these through the lens of social and institutional history involves looking at how shifts in religious authority affected the production and reception of such images. Primary sources from the period, such as sermons, pamphlets, and other printed materials, can provide further insights into the changing role of religion in society and its impact on art.