Martyrium
In this dramatic semi-circular sketch, Mannerist artist Domenico Cresti (also known as Passignano) sets up a tense standoff. On the left, a chaotic crowd of figures, some sporting turbans and weapons, surrounds a victim near a stone basin, while on the right, a bishop in a tall mitre and a crowned king watch the unfolding drama from their throne. The loose, energetic ink lines and wash give the scene a sense of urgent movement, likely serving as a quick, lively study for a larger, more polished painting or fresco.
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