Feast of the English Martyrs: Reflection on ‘The Martyrs’ Picture’ by Durante Alberti

The Venerable English College in Rome is home to a powerful and moving painting, ‘The Martyrs’ Picture’, which was painted by Durante Alberti in 1583. This painting, which still hangs in the college today, depicts the Blessed Trinity alongside two English martyrs, St Thomas of Canterbury and St Edmund, King of East Anglia.

The painting is rich in symbolism, with a burst of light behind God representing the Trinity, and Christ with outstretched arms being held by His Father. Blood is seen pouring out from his wounds onto a map of the British Isles, symbolizing the martyrdom of those who died for their Catholic faith in Protestant England in the late 16th century.

Tradition holds that students would gather around this painting to sing the Te Deum whenever news reached the college of a former student being martyred for their faith. A total of forty-four alumni of the college have been declared Saints and Martyrs.

The Martyrs’ Picture is part of a larger decorative program associated with the Jesuits in the 1580s under Pope Gregory XIII. The Venerable English College was established as a seminary for the formation of English and Welsh men for the priesthood, as they could no longer train at home due to religious persecution.

The sacrifice of these martyrs, who gave their lives for their faith, serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. Their witness continues to inspire Christians around the world today, who are willing to die for their faith. As Pope Paul VI said at the Canonisation of the English Martyrs, ‘The blood of Christians is the seed that is sown… a source of life and spiritual fecundity for the Church and the entire world.’

The Martyrs’ Picture at the Venerable English College stands as a testament to the faith and sacrifice of those who gave their lives for Christ, inspiring all who see it to live their lives with the same spirit of devotion and courage.