Martyrs

Saint Sebastian the Martyr and His Companions
The story of Saint Sebastian the Martyr and his companions (Dec 18) (link)
Fumie - used for the persecution of Christians in Japan in the 17th century. Suspected Christians were forced to step on this in order to prove that they were not members of the outlawed religion. Many Christians refused to step on it resulting in martyrdom.
Agnes of Rome (c. 291 – c. 304) is a virgin–martyr, venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism.
ICON
St. Orestes the Martyr of Cappadocia rejected Maximus' command to worship idols over Christ. For this,he was savagely beaten, scraped, pulled apart on the rack,burned with a red-hot iron,& cast into prison to die of starvation. He spent 7 days without bread or water. On the 8th day,he was again brought before the eparch.... He proclaimed that Christ is in his heart..the torturers hammered 20 iron nails into his feet & tied him to a horse,dragging him over thorns & rocks until he died
Zurbaran - Saint Agnes The art of Spain in the 17th century was to influence later artists in the 19th century such as Manet
Holy Martyrs Kaleria (Valeria), Kyriakia (icon), and Maria lived in Palestinian Caesarea during 3rd cent persecution. Baptized, they lived alone in prayer. Authorities tried to force them to worship idols, but they refused to renounce Christ. They died during fierce torture. (Jun 7)
Inspire: New expressions of the old, old story
A modern take on the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was one of the works of art to go on show at a new exhibition which opened at St Stephen Walbrook on Monday evening. The model for the painting was Duncan Tarrant, the son of the Rector of St Mary’s Woodford, who posed with the artist Peter Webb, who painted it specially for the exhibition
Lives of all saints commemorated on March 13
Holy Martyrs Africanus, Publius and Terence suffered at Petrium in the 3rd century. They are celebrated Mar 13 and Apr 10.
St. Agnes Early Christian Mosaics from the Fourth to the Seventh Centuries: Rome, Naples, Milan, Ravenna. Fourteen Plates in Color. Translated from the German, 1946. Jewelled belt, wrapped over dress, decorated underdress and fabric belt. Wonderfully complex hair style. I love it.
St Agnes of Rome
Byzantine mosaic of Saint Agnes of Rome, Basilica di Sant'Agnese Fuori le Mura, Rome, 7th century