The Martyrdom of Saint Adrian; The Martyrdom of Two Saints, Possibly Ache and Acheul 1475 - 1485

These two panels depicting *The Martyrdom of Saint Adrian* and *The Martyrdom of Two Saints, Possibly Ache and Acheul* were created by an anonymous artist sometime in the 15th or 16th century. During this period, martyrdom was a common theme in art, reflecting the religious and political turmoil of the time. The artist's depiction presents the grim reality of religious persecution. The saints, stripped and vulnerable, are subjected to torture, underscoring the power dynamics at play between the persecuted and their oppressors. The presence of onlookers, mounted on horseback and richly attired, emphasizes the social hierarchy and the public nature of these executions. The stark contrast between the serene landscape in the background and the brutality of the foreground is jarring. It speaks to the complex interplay of faith, power, and violence in the shaping of identity and history. These panels invite us to reflect on the cost of religious conviction and the ways in which power is wielded over the vulnerable.