Saint Ursula

Saint Ursula
Saint Ursula
(Italian, 1350-1396)

Saint Ursula

Dateca. 1388-1393
MediumTempera and gold on panel
Dimensionsoverall: 27 1/4 × 16 1/4 in. (69.2 × 41.3 cm) frame: 29 1/2 × 18 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (74.9 × 47 × 3.8 cm)
ClassificationPAINTINGS
Credit LineSBMA, Gift of Mr. Arthur Sachs
Object number1946.6.2
Subject(s)
  • religion
  • Christianity
  • women
  • book
Collection
  • Old Master
Sub-Collection(s)
  • Southern European, Italian
On View
On view
Label Text

Ursula was an English Christian princess who was promised in marriage to a pagan prince as a reward for his conversion to Christianity. According to the fourth-century legend, Ursula and her 11,000 virgin companions traveled with the prince to Rome to meet the pope. On the return journey, Ursula and her retinue of virgins were massacred by Huns in response to her refusal to marry their leader. This painting was probably once part of a multi-paneled altarpiece of many saints flanking a central image of the Virgin and Child. St. Ursula holds an arrow, the instrument of her martyrdom, and a book of the Gospels, signifying her faith.

Gaddi was a follower of the great early Renaissance master Giotto, who transformed religious painting by moving away from the flat and static icon tradition. Gaddi uses Giotto’s technique of modelling with light and shade to make St. Ursula look solidly three-dimensional and lifelike.



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