This work is inspired by Piazzeta’s Saint Jacques conduit au martyre (Saint Jacques led to martyrdom) which greatly influenced Lama.  It represents the moment before his martyrdom: the hangman binds the saint while the high priest tries one last time to make him worship an idol.  The simplicity - few protagonists - the dynamic composition with oblique and low angle effects as well as daring contrasts of light painted with wide strokes, characterise the art of this painter who was one of the first women allowed to work from nude models.