A large engraving of rows of crucified Christian martyrs above soldiers and spectators, with angels, halos, labels, and dense Latin and German inscriptions.

1627–1632; depicts the 1597 executions · Engraving and history print

Twenty-three Christian Martyrs in Japan

Raphaël Sadeler II

Why it matters

The print reframed an execution through the visual grammar of Catholic martyrdom. It shows how European audiences came to imagine Japan not only as convertible, but as a theatre of persecution.

Publication
Twenty-three Christian Martyrs in Japan
Holding institution
Rijksmuseum
Shelfmark
RP-P-1926-631
Rights
Public Domain; Rijksmuseum

Citation

Sadeler, Raphaël II. Twenty-three Christian Martyrs in Japan. 1627–1632, depicting the 1597 executions near Nagasaki. Rijksmuseum, RP-P-1926-631.