Torture of Tharacus, Probus, and Adronicus, Tarsus, AD 290 1685

Jan Luyken created this engraving, "Torture of Tharacus, Probus, and Adronicus, Tarsus, AD 290" in the late 17th or early 18th century, a period marked by religious conflict and reformation. The print depicts a brutal scene of persecution, likely intended to evoke empathy and outrage. In the center, we see figures being tortured, while a regal authority figure presides on a throne, a symbol of earthly power contrasted with the suffering of the accused. Luyken was a Dutch Golden Age painter, but he was also a poet and etcher. The work speaks to the historical tensions between religious conviction and state power, inviting us to reflect on the ethical implications of such conflicts. It serves as a reminder of the human cost of religious intolerance, urging us to consider the importance of empathy and justice in the face of oppression.