The Slaying of Red Comyn by Robert the Bruce 1810 - 1816

Here is an ink drawing by Henry Fuseli, depicting "The Slaying of Red Comyn by Robert the Bruce." Note the haunting image of a cross looming over the scene. The cross is laden with meaning. It is a universal symbol of sacrifice and redemption, yet here, it hangs over a scene of brutal violence. This juxtaposition is not new. We see echoes of it in earlier works where sacred symbols are placed in morally ambiguous contexts. Think of the Roman emperors adopting divine symbols to legitimize their power. Consider the emotional weight of such symbols. They tap into our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations with guilt, atonement, and power. The cross, in this context, transcends its religious origins. It becomes a powerful emblem of the complex interplay between faith and violence. Fuseli masterfully exploits this tension. He forces us to confront the unsettling reality that even the most sacred symbols can be twisted to justify human actions.