Ayne Bru

Who is Ayne Bru?

Ayne Bru was a 16th-century Renaissance painter of German origin who worked in Catalonia. He may have proceeded from Lummen, in the Duchy of Brabant. He is sometimes also called Lucius de Brun. His surname may also suggest provenance from the town of Brünn.

In 1502, he was hired to paint the main altar in the church of the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès, for which he was paid a staggering wage between 1504 and 1507.

On the central panel, Bru depicted the martyrdom of Saint Cucuphas with enormous realism. The executioner cuts the saint's throat while Cucuphas remains tied to a tree trunk. Nearby, there appear another knife and a dog sleeping peacefully. This work is now at the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

The dog from Bru's painting of Cucuphas' martyrdom was later borrowed by Salvador Dalí for a painting called "Dalí Contemplating Nude" or "Dalí Dalí Dalí".

The vast countryside that serves as a background anachronistically includes the actual monastery of Sant Cugat. Another panel, depicting Saint George, was attached to this one. It has been rejoined and is visible at the National Art Museum of Catalonia.