Sketches of two male nudes for the painting ‘Martyrdom of St. Matthias’ 1866 - 1867

Józef Simmler sketched these nudes, studies for his painting ‘Martyrdom of St. Matthias’. Note how the muscular figures recall classical sculpture, but with a distinctive pose: one man bears a stone, poised to hurl. This motif echoes through history, recalling David with his sling or classical depictions of athletic prowess, yet here, it assumes a darker hue. The stone, a symbol of aggression, shifts from a tool of defense or competition to an instrument of violence. Consider, too, the psychological weight of this act. In the collective memory, stoning is a brutal, communal act, charged with primal emotions: rage, fear, and a desire for retribution. The symbol resurfaces across time, adapted and renewed, yet always tethered to humanity's complex relationship with violence. This sketch, a moment in that unending cycle, connects us to the past but also raises unsettling questions about our present.