The Martyrdom of Saint Livinus

Peter Paul Rubens (in 1633 - 1635)

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Tomy Xavier asked

Did the tongue of St Livinus speak after cutting off?
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Hello Tomy,

The answer is yes! According to some versions of the legend of Saint Livinus, his tongue is said to have miraculously spoken after being cut out. This event was interpreted as a sign of the saint's holiness and his dedication to preaching the Gospel, even in death. The story goes that after Saint Livinus' tongue was severed by his persecutors, it was placed on a nearby altar. Miraculously, the tongue is said to have uttered the words, "I have preached the truth." This event reinforced his status as a martyr and contributed to the veneration of his relics, especially his tongue, which became an important relic in the devotion surrounding him.

Kind regards,
Manus
LEONARDO asked

CHE QUOTAZIONE PUò AVERE UN QUADRO DEL GENERE?
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Hi Leonardo. the image is based upon a gruesome story about the life of an Irish missionary called Livinus. Kind regards, Els
Michaela Watrelot asked

Hello, would you be able to tell me the provenance of artwork "the martyrdom of saint Livinus? I am a PhD candidate, currently researching the collection of Rudolf Kann - he owned "Skizze zu dem Gemälde Martyrium des St. Lievin" measuring 81 x 56cm. Could this be the artwork? From what I know, Kann purchased it from the collection Crabbe in Brussels and later it was sold to Duveen. Thank you!
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Hi Michaela, indeed it is. I will send you a longer reply via e-mail. Best, Rianne
Riccardo Tischler asked

Could you please communicate to me the dimensions of the modello (bozzetto) of the painting "the martyrdom of saint Livinus?
Thank you
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Dear Riccardo, you can find the measurements under 'specifications' on the object page on Collection Boijmans Online. They are 84,5 cm (h) x 59 cm (w). Best, Rianne

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Read aloud

This is an episode from the life of the Irish missionary St Livinus, who preached in Flanders and Zeeland in the first half of the seventh century. Whilst attempting to convert non believers, he was attacked by godless robbers who tore out his tongue and threw it to the dogs. God punished his assailants with a devastating thunderbolt.
The painting is the 'modello' for an enormous canvas (414 x 347 cm) that Rubens painted for the St Livinus Church in Ghent. The painting currently hangs in the museum in Brussels.

Collection book

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Specifications

Title	The Martyrdom of Saint Livinus
Material and technique	Oil on panel
Object type	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Location	This object is in storage

Dimensions	Height 84,5 cm Width 59 cm Depth 10,5 cm
Artists	Painter: Peter Paul Rubens
Accession number	2515 (OK)
Credits	Acquired with the collection of D.G. Van Beuningen, 1958
Department	Old Masters
Acquisition date	1958
Creation date	in 1633 - 1635
Collector	Collector / D.G. van Beuningen
Internal exhibitions	Schilderkunst uit de eerste hand, Olieverfschetsen van Tintoretto tot Goya (1983) The Collection Enriched (2011)
Material	Panel > Worked wood > Wood > Vegetable material > Organic material > Material > Material and technique Oil > Paint > Artist's material > Material > Material and technique
Object	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Geographical origin	Southern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe

All about the artist

Peter Paul Rubens

Siegen 1577 - Antwerpen 1640

The Antwerp painter Peter Paul Rubens was appointed court artist to the Duke of Mantua in Italy at a young age. In 1603 he travelled to Madrid, where he was...

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