Martyrdom Of Saint Agatha, Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino (napoli 1572 – Palermo 1645)

The canvas depicts Saint Agatha, the patron saint of Catania, identifiable by her typical iconographic attributes: the plate with her severed breasts, a symbol of martyrdom, the palm, a sign of victory over death,
and the halo. The saint is depicted half-length, with an ecstatic gaze turned upward,
in a devotional pose, wrapped in a rich red robe and white cloak. The rendering of the sweet and idealized faces, the balanced lighting with a dark background, and the
delicacy of the hands recall the style of Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino, an artist trained in
Neapolitan art, close to Marco Pino and Fabrizio Santafede, who later worked in
Palermo, where he gained a large following. The work fits perfectly into the devotional production
typical between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, in which the figure of the
saint is exalted by a cultured yet accessible language, intended for both churches and
private patrons.
The canvas highlights the characteristics of late Mannerism: formal composure, idealized features,
and balanced chromatic harmony. At the same time, the first Baroque influences are evident in the
lighting, the intensity of the gaze, and the devotional power of the scene. Convincing comparisons can be made
with other works by Azzolino in Palermo and Naples,
particularly with subjects of holy martyrs characterized by similar religious pathos. Attribution:
The work can be attributed with good reason to Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino, an important
interpreter of late Neapolitan-Sicilian Mannerism, particularly attentive to the depictions of
devotional subjects.