Saint Andrew
Pompeo Batoni
1740–1743
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 74 × 61 cm (29 1/8 × 24 in.); Framed: 94 × 82 cm (37 × 32 1/4 in.)
- Genre
- Oil on canvas
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Tags
paintingpaintcanvasNew Testamentoil on canvasoiloil paint (paint)painting (image making)painting techniquesItalianSaintsChristian subjectsmanbiblicaloil paintingeuropean paintingChristianity18th Century
About
One of a series of religious paintings commissioned by Pompeo Batoni’s most dedicated patron, Count Cesare Merenda of Forlì, this painting depicts Andrew the Apostle carrying his distinctive X-shaped cross. As the story goes, Saint Andrew welcomed death by crucifixion because it brought him closer to Christ, calling out in his final moments, “Oh Cross, I have desired to embrace you.” Capturing the emotional drama of this moment, Batoni painted the saint with a somber expression, tenderly and affectionately clutching his instrument of torture.
