Martyrdom of the Apostles: Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew

Stefan Lochner painted this Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew as part of his systematic cycle depicting the deaths of the twelve apostles. Bartholomew's martyrdom by flaying was among the most graphically violent in the apostolic tradition. Lochner's treatment maintains devotional decorum despite the gruesome subject. The tempera medium required careful preparation on a gessoed panel and a disciplined layering technique that produced precise, durable surfaces suited to the intricate detail expected of devotional painting.

Oil on panel with Lochner's refined Cologne technique applied to the martyrdom narrative. The characteristic balance between graphic violence and devotional beauty demonstrates the master's distinctive artistic sensibility.