Italian School; Saint Agatha, Late 17th Early 18th Century, Oil On Canvas

Saint Agatha
Oil on canvas
in 27,95x36,61

The iconography confirms the identification with Saint Agatha, a Sicilian martyr of the 3rd century. Her canonical attributes include: a platter with severed breasts, symbol of her martyrdom; the palm of martyrdom, representing her unwavering faith; and the halo, indicating her sanctity. The Saint is depicted in half-length, her gaze turned upward in an attitude of ecstasy or divine inspiration. She wears a blue robe with golden details and a red mantle, symbols of nobility and martyrdom. In one hand, she holds the palm frond, a traditional attribute of Christian martyrdom, while with the other she supports a dish containing two severed breasts, a clear reference to Saint Agatha’s torture, during which her breasts were amputated as punishment for her Christian faith. The painting belongs to the Italian School, probably of Genoese origin, and dates to around the late 17th early 18th century. The work reflects a transition between the Late Baroque and Rococo styles, though it retains strong references to 17th-century devotion

in 27,95x36,61

Provenance
Private collection

Recently restoration. Frame not original to the period.