Le Martyre de Saint Placide (The Martyrdom of Saint Placidus)
18th century
Despite the title 'Le Martyre de Saint Placide', the handwritten inscriptions in the corners—'Luca Giordano' and 'Ste Justine a Padoue'—reveal this is likely a copy by Rococo master Jean-Honoré Fragonard of a Baroque scene depicting Saint Justina of Padua. Fragonard was famous for his lightning-fast, energetic drawing style during his time in Italy, and here he captures the chaos of martyrdom with vigorous strokes: soldiers brandishing swords, a terrified figure kneeling, and cherubs swirling in the clouds above. It is a fascinating example of how even the most playful Rococo artists intensely studied the dramatic compositions of Baroque predecessors like Giordano.
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