36 by 26.50in. (91.4 by 67.3cm)

Title: A MARTYR AND FOUR FEMALE FIGURES IN AN AMPHITHEATRE
Note: This biblical scene possibly illustrates the death of St Ignatius of Antioch, also called Theophorus (‘God-bearer’), who died in the time of the Emperor Trajan. A convert from paganism, Ignatius was arrested, condemned to be killed by wild beasts and sent to Rome under military guard for execution in the Colosseum. Testament to the artist’s interest in this subject matter, in 1891 St. George Hare exhibited a work in the Royal Academy entitled, The Victory of Faith, [no. 489]. Graves’, The Royal Academy Index of Arts, A Complete Dictionary of Contributors and their Work, from its Foundation in 1769 to 1904 (Vol. II), p.391 lists the aforementioned painting and includes the following note from Foxe’s Martyrs, “Divers and sundrie torments were the Christians molested with, and the martyrs were in most miserable and pitiful wise handled. Those which were not tormented to death, were everie daie terrified and feared without ceasing.”

oil on canvas

with faint typed label on frame on reverse; bears "HARE" on canvas on reverse