The Blinding of St Victor c. 1351

This panel, The Blinding of St. Victor, was painted by Bartolomeo Bulgarini around the 14th century. The image is dominated by the crude act of blinding, a symbol of the conflict between spiritual enlightenment and worldly ignorance. The act of blinding echoes through history, from the blinding of Polyphemus by Odysseus to numerous saints’ legends. This motif transcends mere physical violence; it represents the suppression of inner vision, a recurring theme across cultures. Consider, for instance, how Oedipus' self-blinding mirrors a quest for truth, albeit through suffering. Bulgarini captures the psychological weight of this moment, inviting us to contemplate the cyclical nature of persecution and spiritual resistance. The continued relevance of this motif speaks to the enduring human struggle between belief and oppression, a drama played out across the stage of history.