The artwork “Torment of the Jew,” created by Piero della Francesca between the years 1452 and 1466, is a religious fresco painting belonging to the Early Renaissance art movement. Measuring 356 by 193 centimeters, this piece is part of the series “The Legend of the True Cross” and is located in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo, Italy.
In this artwork, several figures are engaged in a scene of torment. The composition is anchored by a central figure who is afflicted, situated at the base of a structure resembling a stone well. The backdrop features a city wall rendered in warm reddish hues, contrasted with a serene sky. The figures, clad in contemporary attire typical of the period, are depicted in the act of physically subduing the central person. The hues employed and the intricate detailing exemplify della Francesca’s mastery of fresco techniques, capturing the narrative with a blend of precision and pathos characteristic of Early Renaissance art.
