Jacobus de Man - Saint Dorothea

Depiction of Saint Dorothea and the boy that brought fruits to her mocker Theophilus.

Handcoloured copperengraving executed and signed in the plate bij Jacobus de man ( Ieper 1647- Antwerp 1719).
Original colouring around A.D. 1700.

In beautiful frame of later date.
Dimensions: incl. frame 35 x 30 cm.
Excl. frame: ca. 18 x 13 cm.

Dorothea of Caesarea (also known as Saint Dorothy, Greek: Δωροθέα; died ca. 311 AD) is a 4th-century virgin martyr who was executed at Caesarea Mazaca. Evidence for her actual historical existence or acta is very sparse. She is called a martyr of the late Diocletianic Persecution, although her death occurred after the resignation of Diocletian himself.

Dorothea and her companion, Theophilus, are mentioned in the Roman Martyrology as martyrs of Caesarea in Cappadocia, with a feast on 6 February.[3] She is officially recognized as a virgin martyr.

Virgin and martyr, Dorothea of Caesarea was persecuted during the persecution of Diocletian, 6 February, 311, at Caesarea in Cappadocia. She was brought before the prefect Sapricius, tried, tortured, and sentenced to death. On her way to the place of execution the pagan lawyer Theophilus said to her in mockery: "Bride of Christ, send me some fruits from your bridegroom's garden." Before she was executed, she sent him, by a six-year-old boy, her headdress which was found to be filled with a heavenly fragrance of roses and fruits. Theophilus at once confessed himself a Christian, was put on the rack, and suffered death. This is the oldest version of the legend, which was later variously enlarged