Martyrdom of Saint Clement
- Artist: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
- Date: (circa) 1734 - 1739
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Martyrdom of Saint Clement” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. The scene captures Saint Clement, the fourth Pope, as he is bound to an anchor and about to be cast into the sea by Emperor Trajan. Tiepolo renders the moment of divine intervention, where the Holy Trinity appears to the saint, offering a glimmer of hope amid imminent death.
This sketch was a preliminary design for an altarpiece destined for the main altar of a convent church at Nymphenburg, now in Germany. The subject was likely chosen because the church’s patron, Archbishop‑Elector Clemens Augustus of Cologne, shared the saint’s name. It’s an early work, dated roughly 1734–1739, and executed in oil on canvas, showcasing Tiepolo’s mastery of light and dramatic composition even in the planning stages.
Notice how the anchor, a symbol of steadfast faith, dominates the foreground, while the sea’s turbulent waves set a dramatic backdrop. The use of soft, luminous brushwork hints at the later, more refined versions Tiepolo would create. The painting’s thematic choice reflects the Baroque fascination with martyrdom and the triumph of faith over earthly oppression, all wrapped in Tiepolo’s elegant, airy style.
See it in person
Martyrdom of Saint Clement hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
