Class
Article
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Horrifying and under scrutinized the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis (1587) depicts endless pages of sixteenth century torture methods inflicted upon Catholic martyrs, leaving sufficient room for questions waiting to be answered. The largest and most pressing question this book offers is why it was created. When exploring different conclusions to such a question it is important to understand the contextual history and nature of a rare object such as this. There is probable cause that this book was created in response to John Foxe's Book of Martyrs, which was published 24 years prior to the publication of the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis. It is also possible that the author of the Theatrum Crudelitatum, Richard Verstegan who was an Anglo-Dutch Catholic, was a propagandist supporting the idea that martyrdom was a form of resistance to oppression of religion at this point in history. There is sufficient evidence supporting this theory. In Foxe's Book of Martyrs there are limited illustrations of torture merthods where as in Verstegan's Theatrum Crudelitatum there is an overwhelming amount of vivid and equally horrifying engravings depicting Catholics as weak. It is equally important to take a look into the author's personal history to gain more explanations for the creation of the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis. Richard Verstegan was an Anglo-Dutch Catholic that studied English at Oxford University without obtaining a degree. It is thought that he left due to his religious beliefs at the time. He was later a propagandist of Duke and Guise before settling in Antwerp, Belgium where he published and illustrated his work. This rare book even served as a precedent as to what happened to those not of the Protestant faith. The Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis by Richard Verstegan was created for both personal reasons and propagandistic opportunity.
Start Date
4-8-2020 1:00 PM
End Date
4-8-2020 2:00 PM
Included in
An Attraction to Horror: Understanding the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis
Horrifying and under scrutinized the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis (1587) depicts endless pages of sixteenth century torture methods inflicted upon Catholic martyrs, leaving sufficient room for questions waiting to be answered. The largest and most pressing question this book offers is why it was created. When exploring different conclusions to such a question it is important to understand the contextual history and nature of a rare object such as this. There is probable cause that this book was created in response to John Foxe's Book of Martyrs, which was published 24 years prior to the publication of the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis. It is also possible that the author of the Theatrum Crudelitatum, Richard Verstegan who was an Anglo-Dutch Catholic, was a propagandist supporting the idea that martyrdom was a form of resistance to oppression of religion at this point in history. There is sufficient evidence supporting this theory. In Foxe's Book of Martyrs there are limited illustrations of torture merthods where as in Verstegan's Theatrum Crudelitatum there is an overwhelming amount of vivid and equally horrifying engravings depicting Catholics as weak. It is equally important to take a look into the author's personal history to gain more explanations for the creation of the Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis. Richard Verstegan was an Anglo-Dutch Catholic that studied English at Oxford University without obtaining a degree. It is thought that he left due to his religious beliefs at the time. He was later a propagandist of Duke and Guise before settling in Antwerp, Belgium where he published and illustrated his work. This rare book even served as a precedent as to what happened to those not of the Protestant faith. The Theatrum Crudelitatum Haereticorum Nostri Temporis by Richard Verstegan was created for both personal reasons and propagandistic opportunity.
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