The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer
Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1883Fine art reproduction on 200gsm matte paper. A5 to A1, plus 24x36 inches.Prices start from £13.99See sizes and prices on Etsy
The lions have climbed out of the dark. In the far corner of the arena, a small crowd kneels and prays.
Jean-Léon Gérôme set this scene in ancient Rome, during the persecution of Christians under Nero. The arena is the Circus Maximus, not the Colosseum. Look closely at the two tall cone-topped pillars on the left. They mark the turning post where chariots wheeled round, and their tracks still curve through the sand. Along the far wall, martyrs tied to crosses burn as living torches, a cruelty the Roman historian Tacitus recorded.
The American collector William Walters commissioned the painting in 1863. Gérôme delivered it twenty years later, in 1883, after repainting the scene three times. The original hangs in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.
The look
Pale gold sand, a storm-grey sky and tiers of crowds in shadow. Wide and cinematic, with the drama held in small figures. Large wall art for a dark academia study, a hallway or above a library sofa, with the weight of gothic home decor.
Sizes
| Size | Centimetres | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| A5 | 14.8 x 21 cm | 5.8 x 8.3 in |
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 cm | 8.3 x 11.7 in |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 cm | 11.7 x 16.5 in |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 cm | 16.5 x 23.4 in |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 cm | 23.4 x 33.1 in |
| 24 x 36 in | 61 x 91.4 cm | 24 x 36 in |
Custom sizes on request. Inch sizes have a slightly different shape from A sizes, so the edges trim a little. Size guide
Frames and delivery
Choose a black, white or oak frame, or order the print unframed. It is printed locally in the UK, Europe, the US, Canada or Australia, at the location closest to you. Free tracked shipping, no customs fees. Printing and delivery
Gifting
A moving gift for Easter, a confirmation, a feast day or a new home library.
More like this
More of ancient Rome in our Ancient Rome section: Pollice Verso by Jean-Léon Gérôme and Gladiators after the Combat by José Moreno Carbonero.
