Bidspirit auction | 1585 ENGRAVING MARTYRDOM SCENE BY

1585 ENGRAVING MARTYRDOM SCENE BY CAVALIERI ECCLESIAE MILITANTIS TRIUMPHI # 12 - ORIGINAL 16th CENTURY ENGRAVING by Giovanni Battista de CAVALIERI Plate 12: Martyrdom scenes with St Blandina enmeshed in a net and being attacked by a bull in foreground, Christians being burned in background, Attalus seated on a chair and on fire in left background, a man tied to a pole and being beaten in right background; letters A-D within composition indicating different scenes Titled in top margin: ”Aestimati svmvs sicvt oves occisionis. Psal.XLIII.”. Lettered and numbered '12' in lower margin, with explanatory key in Latin. the plate from Ecclesiae militantis triumphi; sive, Deo amabilium martyrum gloriosa pro Christi fide certamina by NICCOLO CIRCIGNANI Engraved by Giovanni Battista Cavalieri after frescoes of martyrdom scenes by Circignani in the church of S. Stefano Rotondo in Rome In the book of Giovanni Battista de' Cavalieri, published by Bartolomeo Grassi in 1585 in Rome, the martyrdom scenes in San Stefano Rotondo are reproduced along with their inscriptions, as if they were a catechism for the newly reformed church returning to its Early Christian roots. The church of San Stefano Rotondo, which has an unusual round shape, is known for its frescoes depicting Christian martyrdom under the Roman empire. The frescoes, painted by a team lead by Niccolò Circignani known as il Pomarancio, show the different means by which Romans tortured early Christian martyrs. The cycle of martyrs, as it became known, was commissioned by the German-Hungarian College of Jesuits, to which the church belongs, with the specific aim of educating their novices. During their novitiate in Rome (the training period given to decide whether or not to join the Church), trainee priests were isolated from the world to meditate on the life of Christ. Size 8 1/3 by 11 1/2 (including margins) Some wear, dampstain visible on the scans. EXTREMELY RARE Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions will ship all lots domestically for $25.00 per lot. Combined and international shipping are available. The rates will be provided upon request.