How to recognize these 5 Christian martyrs in paintings

Christian martyrs are often remembered through grim attributes that serve as poignant reminders of the agonizing ordeal they endured due to their faith.

1. Saint Laurence

Patron saint of cooks, chefs, and comedians

Burned on a rack

As he endured the excruciating torment of being cooked, the story goes that he turned to his tormentors and calmly uttered:

“I’m done on this side, flip me over”
Francisco de Zurbarán, "Saint Laurence" (1636)
Francisco de Zurbarán, "Saint Laurence" (1636)

2. Saint Sebastian

Patron saint of soldiers, archers, and plague

Shot by arrows

His survival from a rain of arrows did little to sway the Roman emperor who had issued his death sentence. He was then brutally beaten, and his lifeless body cast aside into a sewer.

Tommaso,"Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian" (15th century)
Tommaso,"Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian" (15th century)

3. Saint Catherine

Patron saint of girls, students, philosophers, and craftsmen working with wheels

Breaking wheel

Initially condemned to the breaking wheel, she left onlookers astounded when the wheel disintegrated at her mere touch. As the execution proceeded with a beheading, legend has it that instead of blood, a milk-like substance flowed from her severed neck...

Caravaggio, "Saint Catherine of Alexandria" (1598)
Caravaggio, "Saint Catherine of Alexandria" (1598)

4. Saint Peter Martyr

Patron saint of inquisitors and midwives

Murdered by cleaver

Vengeful Venetian nobles hired his assassins in response to Peter's persecution of heretics.

Pedro Berruguete, "Saint Peter the Martyr" (c. 1493-1499)
Pedro Berruguete, "Saint Peter the Martyr" (c. 1493-1499)

5. Saint Lucy

Patron saint of the blind

Eyes removed

Paschasius commanded his guards to remove her eyes when she prophesied his impending punishment. Another version has Lucy taking her own eyes out in order to discourage a persistent suitor who was captivated by them.

Domenico Beccafumi, "Saint Lucy" (1521)
Domenico Beccafumi, "Saint Lucy" (1521)

Extra

A shared symbol among all martyrs is the palm leaf of victory, reminiscent of what Greek or Roman athletes received upon winning sporting contests. Martyrs are victorious in death, reborn in Heaven.

Spot a palm leaf - Spot a martyr!

Spot a palm leaf - Spot a martyr!

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Fun Facts
Jul 9, 2025
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Museum Fatigue: A Century-Old Problem

Have you ever stood in an exhibition hall, gazing up at a 2000-year-old sculpture or a priceless painting, and felt… like you wanted to curl up in bed?

If so, you might have experienced something called ‘museum fatigue’. This phenomenon can affect even the most enthusiastic culture buff, and refers to a sense of feeling increasingly overwhelmed and exhausted as you mooch around a museum or gallery. 

"museum fatigue"—that overwhelmed, drained feeling even the most eager culture lovers get while wandering galleries.

The term ‘museum fatigue’ was first coined by Benjamin Ives Gilman in 1916. He focused on how the placement of exhibits led to unnecessary physical strain, causing us to tire ourselves out. 

But since then, researchers have also come to recognise the mental toll of a museum visit. This stems from a number of factors, including:

Information overload – where the sheer amount of information in a museum gets a bit much. This includes lengthy gallery labels and descriptions, as well as the exhibits themselves!

Object competition – when different exhibits in the same space battle it out for our attention. This prevents us from focusing properly on a single piece and erodes our overall engagement with a museum.

And last but not least, satiation – where we take in a number of similar pieces in a row, causing us to become progressively less interested. (One ancient Greek statue? Fantastic. One hundred? OK, now you’ve lost me.)

Together, these elements can contribute to an acute case of cultural burnout – and more than 100 years on from Benjamin Gilman, museum fatigue doesn’t look like going away.

Object competition – when different exhibits in the same space battle it out for our attention.

So, it’s clear that something has to change; that we need a whole new way of approaching museums, and the amazing things in them. Because if we’re getting tired of Da Vinci and Van Gogh – of the Rosetta Stone and the Venus de Milo – then something has gone seriously, seriously wrong! 

Fun Facts
Jun 18, 2025
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4 Hacks to Improve Your Visit at The British Museum

Situated in the heart of London, the British Museum boasts the largest permanent collection in the world. Understandably, then, it’s also an incredibly popular tourist attraction. But don’t be like all the other suckers: in this guide, we’ll take you through four handy hacks to make your visit as easy (and engaging) as possible!

‍Try the back door

📷 by Wikimedia Commons
📷 by Wikimedia Commons

While the museum’s main entrance on Great Russell Street is pretty impressive to look at, it can also attract some equally impressive queues. To cut down the wait time, try the rear entrance on Montague Place. Thankfully, most visitors seem to have no idea that it exists (or perhaps they just really love queuing).

Either way, this ‘back door’ is usually a safe bet for a much smoother entry – giving you more time to peruse the museum’s incredible collection!

Wait for a sunny day

The British Museum (in London) - people inside building
📷 by Nicolas Lysandrou through Unsplash

While it might be a bit of a cliché, it’s also an inescapable fact: London has some pretty terrible weather. So, on those rare days that the sun decides to make an appearance, most normal people want to make the most of it, not spend the day indoors.

Which is great for us. While everyone else is outside getting some vitamin D, we can enjoy a less crowded, less hectic British Museum. Sure, this might seem just a little bit wrong – but to get a better look at the likes of the Rosetta Stone and the Sutton Hoo Helmet, it’s more than worth it!

(And whatever you do, just try not to go on a rainy day – because then things really can get messy).


Spread out!

 woman standing beside gray column at the Brisitsh Museum in London UK
📷 by Wen Chen through Unsplash

The British Museum is a vast site – but few visitors venture beyond a few core exhibits. Their loss is our gain: from the Holy Thorn Reliquary to the Mold Gold Cape, the museum’s less popular galleries are still packed full of priceless historical treasures – and you won’t have to elbow anyone out of the way to see them!

Download MuseMuse

App store listing of the musemuse app (available on the app store)

In a collection as big as the British Museum, you’re never going to be able to see everything – but MuseMuse can help you make the absolute best of your visit. With our custom itineraries and bite-sized guides to the essential exhibits, you can cut out the aimless wandering and glide through the place like a pro.

Right then, you’re all set for a spiffing day out at the British Museum – we hope that our top tips will add that extra bit of sparkle to your visit! Just don’t telltoomany people about that back entrance, eh?

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