Laurentius, Archdeacon of Rome, is placed on the glowing grate because he refused to hand over the church treasure to Emperor Valerian. A putto floats down from above to bring Laurentius a palm branch and a wreath as a sign of victory. A pagan priest points a finger up to convince Laurentius of the power of Jupiter, whose idol rises in the background to the left. On the left edge of the picture, soldiers watch the cruel execution. The painter was inspired for his work by a composition by Peter Paul Rubens depicting the martyrdom of St. Lawrence. In contrast to Rubens, he moved the event into the night to emphasize the lighting effects.
Dear friends,
We are excited to inform you about the change of address for our gallery. Don’t worry – we haven’t moved far, just a few steps away! You can now find us at Lázeňská 285/11 - 118 00 Mala Strana, in a beautiful Baroque building full of history, known as Beethoven Palace or the House of the Golden and White Unicorn.
Come visit our new space and admire the works of old masters. We look forward to seeing you!
Your gallery team
FINE ANTIQUES PRAGUE
