XVIIth Springuel Family Self-portrait By Nicolas Poussin Subject: Rome The Martyrs

: the martyrs Hilaire d'Augsbourg, Digna, Euprepia and Eunomia ....

Provenance Springuel family Château la

Motte de Huy, central detail where Nicolas Poussin's head is depicted in a work whose scene is extremely rare for the subject according to a professor emeritus of the Rubenanium and the Sorbonne ' it could seem to be a scene in ancient Rome are obvious, such as the square red banner on the long pole on the left and, especially on the left, the beams tied with a ribbon, indicating the presence of a lictor: these bundles were carried by these servants of Rome's supreme judges, and signified their right to condemn to death. This is clearly what is happening to these women, as the pile of wood carried by a servant on the right indicates that they are being taken away by soldiers to be burned alive. This is a rare subject: the martyrs Hilaire d'Augsbourg, Digna, Euprepia and Eunomia, condemned to be burned at the stake for not observing, as Christians, the religious customs of the Romans - a condemnation dated around 304 AD.C. These martyrs, having suffered such cruel punishment, were buried outside Rome, on the Via Ostia, to which the architecture in the background refers ' The painter certainly received advice from clergy or theologians regarding such an esoteric subject and must have painted this extremely rare theme for a very particular commissioner.

That said, the resemblance of one of the figures to Poussin's portrait is striking and could point to Rome as the place of this martyrdom, since Poussin resided in Rome and was also buried there, more precisely in the basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina.

! The work is monumental and prevents me from presenting it at ' Sablon Antiques Center ' 39

Place du Grand Sablon, 1000 Brussels.

It will be on appointment - you after a certain interest because the dimensions are : 272 cm x 132 cm plus frame ** this is a Musee painting which should find its place in the history of Liège under Louis XIV

*** This work with the self-portrait of Nicolas Poussin is a hymn to the Grand Master by a painter who probably met him in his studio in Rome even if the pieces of the puzzle are still unknown to us but certainly not for much longer .
Dimensions : unframed 132 cm x 172 cm framed 148 cm x 188 cm
Condition : in its original state, some parts need to be re-fixed, some small repaints are necessary to undertake the old canvas, but the work is not crushed.
Pigment : lapis lazuli can be found for the sky-blue parts and smalt blue for other garments we are under Louis XIV