Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish, 1598–1664)
Saint Romanus of Antioch and Saint Barulas
INV-6166
Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish, 1598–1664)1638
Saint Romanus of Antioch and Saint Barulas
Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish, 1598–1664) →17th Centuryoil on canvasoil paintings (visual works)
Date
1638
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
246.5 × 185.4 cm (97 1/16 × 73 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Chauncey McCormick and Mrs. Richard E. Danielson
Francisco de Zurbarán excelled at painting altarpieces that presented saints in an accessible manner. Catholic reformers, who aimed to revitalize Catholicism in the face of the Protestant Reformation, emphasized that religious painting should feature easily recognizable figures and narratives in order to reach contemporary audiences.
This canvas, made for the high altar of the church of San Román in Seville, Spain, aligns with the church’s dedication to Saint Romanus of Antioch. Romanus towers over Saint Barulas, a seven-year-old child who was inspired to martyrdom by the elder saint’s words. Romanus holds up his own tongue, torn out by his tormentors, and grasps a massive book inscribed with a prayer invoking his intercession on behalf of the faithful.
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