Martyrdom of the Roman Officers John and Paul

Guercino, c. 1627 - c. 1632

The degree of detail in this drawing indicates that Guercino had a very vivid idea of the beheading of John and Paul. The sheet was probably one of the first – and by far the most lugubrious – of many studies in preparation for an altarpiece, which is now in Toulouse. Guercino ultimately arrived at a more modest and l ess bloody composition for the altarpiece.

  • Artwork typedrawing
  • Object numberRP-T-1964-38
  • Dimensionsheight 210 mm x width 302 mm
  • Physical characteristicspen en penseel in bruin