08 works, Today, December 28th, is The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia's day, their story, illustrated #360

Troganov school
Detail; Saint Cyril, c. 17th C

Russian I con

Church-Archaeological Office of the Moscow Theological Academy.

Stroganov School is a conventional name for the last major Russian icon-painting school, which thrived under the patronage of the rich Stroganov family of merchants in the late 16th and 17th century.

"Stroganov School" owes its name to frequent mentioning of the Stroganovs on the markings on the back of the icons of Yemelyan Moskvitin, Stefan Pakhirya, Prokopy Chirin, Istoma, Nazariy, and Nikifor Saviny. Most of these icon painters, however, did not belong to the Stroganov School. They were icon painters from Moscow and executed commissions by the tsar. Many of their works were eventually acquired by the Stroganovs, who had been known as connoisseurs of sophisticated craftsmanship. 

The works of art of the Stroganov School have quite a few features in common, such as small size, diminutiveness, refined palette, density of paint layers, graphic precision of details, fragile characters' postures and gestures, richness of their vestments, and complicated landscape background. More on the Stroganov School

The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia refers to victims of persecution of Christians in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey) by the Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximian in the early 4th century AD.

At this time the bishop of the city of Nicomedia was Saint Cyril, whose preaching had greatly contributed to the spread of the Gospel.

Haround Binous

Emperor Diocletian
Facial Reconstruction

I have no further description, at this time

Haround Binous

Emperor Maximian (284-305)
Facial Reconstruction

I have no further description, at this time

At the turn of the fourth century, the Roman emperor Maximian (284-305) was growing increasingly angry over the spread of Christianity throughout the Empire. Even members of his court had been revealed as secret Christians.

Unknown artist

The church burned in Nicomedia, c. 985

Illustration

Constantinople. 985. Miniature Minology of Vasily II.

Vatican Library, Rome

According to various martyrologies and menologies, the persecution included the burning of a church that held numerous Christians on Christmas Day.

Unknown artist

Triumph of Maximian

Triumph of Titus

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

I have no further description, at this time

This event took place when the emperor Maximian (284-305) returned with victory over Ethiopians in 304 AD. It happened after they had refused to sacrifice to idols during Christmas Mass in order to thank gods for the victory he had acquired. 

Unknown artist

Glycerius of Nicomedia

 Miniature Minology of Vasily II. Constantinople, c. 985

Vatican Library, Rome

Later Maximian and his soldiers entered the church and told the Christians they could escape punishment if they renounced Christ. The Christian priest Glycerius answered that the Christians would never "renounce their faith, even under the threat of torture". 

Unknown artist

The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia

Mural of the 16th century AD.

Holy Monastery of Dionysiou. Mount Athos

Maximian ordered him to be burned to death. Those who had not been burned in the church were captured and tortured to death. The bishop Anthimos who had escaped burning in the church was captured and beheaded.

Unknown artist

Bishop Anthimos was beheaded

Miniature Minology of Vasily II. Constantinople, c. 985

Vatican Library, Rome

The number 20,000 may be apocryphal. However, the martyrs of Nicomedia continue to be honored with feast days: they are commemorated on 28 December in the Eastern Orthodox Church, and by the Byzantine Catholic Churches. In the Roman Martyrology of the Roman Catholic Church, there are separate entries for groups of martyrs of Nicomedia. The martyrdom of Anthimus of Nicomedia and companions is commemorated on 24 April and "the commemoration of many holy martyrs of Nicomedia" on June 23. More on The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints, 365 Days, and Biblical Icons, also visit my Boards on Pinterest and my art stores at  deviantart and Aaroko

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07 works, Today, August 26th, is Saint Victor's day, his story illustrated #238

Archimandrite Cyprian

Holy Martyr Victor

Russian Icon

4.1″ x 6″

Private collection

Archimandrite Kyprian, or Kyrill Dimitrievich Pyzhov, (Pyzhov), born on January 20, 1904 in St. Petersburg, Russia, was a monastic and icon painter of the twentieth century Russian emigration under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Known for the iconography of many churches in the United States of America, he led the icon-painting studio at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York until his repose in April 15, 2001. More on Archimandrite Kyprian

Martyr Victor of Milan, also Victor the Moor and Victor Maurus, was a Christian soldier in the Roman army who was tortured and beheaded in the early fourth century after his destruction of altars to Roman pagan gods revealed his Christian faith.

Milanese sculptor (last decade of 15th century)

Statue of St Victor 

Candoglia marble

Museo del Duomo - Milan.

Victor was born in ancient Mauretania, a Roman province on the Mediterranean coast of north Africa. He was a Berber of the Mauri tribe, after which the Moors were named. Born into a Christian family during the latter part of the third century, he nevertheless became a soldier in the Roman army and advanced through the ranks to become a member of the Praetorian Guard that served the Roman emperor Maximian, the emperor for the Western Roman Empire from 286 to 305. Around 303 AD, he secretly started to spread Christianity among the population.

Unknown artist

Roman emperor Maximian, big game hunt

Mosaic 

Villa Romana del Casale

His zeal for Christ became known to Maximian after Victor had destroyed a pagan altar to a Roman god. Brought before the angry emperor, Victor confessed he was a Christian. Maximian then ordered Victor's imprisonment. Finding that Victor would not deny Christ, the emperor then ordered his further subjection to imprisonment and various tortures. 

Unknown Master, Flemish (last quarter of the 15th century)

The Torture of St Victor, c. 1490

Wooden panel

Stedelijke Musea Mechelen, Belgium

Still rejecting the emperor's calls to sacrifice to the pagan gods, Maximian finally, in 303, directed the beheading of Victor in the emperor's garden in a small wood called The Elms in Milan.

LATE MANNERIST ROMAN PAINTER

Maximian finally, in 303, directed the beheading of Victor in the emperor's garden

BEHEADING OF SAINT JAMES THE GREATER, EARLY 17TH CENTURY 

Oil on canvas

cm. 103 x 130

Private collection

Before his martyrdom, Victor foretold that the emperor would soon die. After his beheading on May 8, Maximian ordered that no one was to bury his body so that it would be eaten by the wild animals. When six days later the emperor sent his soldiers to check the condition of Victor's body, they found it untouched by the animals. The emperor then ordered his body buried. 

Unknown artist

Saint Maternus

 Mosaic

Chapel of San Vittore in Ciel d'Oro

After having received permission to bury the martyred Victor's body, Bishop Maternus of Milan found it was guarded by two beasts, one each at his head and his feet. As the saintly Maternus approached, the beasts withdrew and Bp. Maternus wrapped the corpse in linen and buried it, in peace, not far from the small wood on May 14.

Louis Boulanger

St. Gregory of Tours, Bishop and historian (538-594), c. 1841

Oil on Canvas

I have no further description, at this time

Louis Boulanger (11 March 1806, Vercelli, Piedmont – 5 March 1867, Dijon) was a French Romantic painter, lithographer and illustrator.

He enrolled in 1821 at the École des beaux-arts where he eceived a solid classical training. Next he made a presentation for the prix de Rome, in 1824. He became the companion of Eugène Devéria and an intimate of Victor Hugo as well as different Parisian Romantic circles, which had a decisive effect on his career.

He saw great success at the Salon of 1827. However, this success did not continue in the young painter's career. He painted the portrait of several personalities of the era, including the most famous example, Balzac in a monk's robe, now at the musée des beaux-arts in Tours. Several of Boulanger's works are held at the maison Victor Hugo in place des Vosges, Paris.

He was illustrator of several Romantic works of Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas. More on Louis Boulanger

Veneration of the martyr Victor began soon after his death. St. Gregory of Tours recorded that miracles occurred above his grave over which a church was built. St. Ambrose of Milan encouraged devotion to the martyr Victor. More on Martyr Victor

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, and 365 Saints, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.