Burial of Saint Petronilla. The Burial of St. Petronilla is an altarpiece painted by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri around 1623.
It simultaneously depicts the burial and the welcoming to heaven of the martyred Saint Petronilla. The altarpiece was painted for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, for a chapel dedicated to the saint and containing her relics.
It was later transferred to the Quirinal Palace, before being taken to Pais by Napoleon's troops. Brought back to Italy by Antonio Canova, it was placed in the Capitoline Museums of Rome in 1818, where it is currently displayed.
Petronilla, whose name means little rock, is popularly believed to have been the daughter of Saint Peter, whose Greek name, Petros, means rock. Her relics had rested in the catacombs of Rome until 1606, when they were transferred to the basilica church dedicated to her father.
The painting is a portrayal of Saint Petronilla's martyrdom. The representation created by Guercino emphasizes Petronilla's devotion to God above all, but also to the Church and the reward with which she met upon her death. The painted narrative occurs on two tiers, Heaven and Earth. Petronilla is seen being lowered into her grave and at the same time entering Heaven. Both images are aligned along the central vertical axis, mirroring each other. The figures are directly involved in the actions depicted. However, the narrative representation does not exclude the cong
It simultaneously depicts the burial and the welcoming to heaven of the martyred Saint Petronilla. The altarpiece was painted for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, for a chapel dedicated to the saint and containing her relics.
It was later transferred to the Quirinal Palace, before being taken to Pais by Napoleon's troops. Brought back to Italy by Antonio Canova, it was placed in the Capitoline Museums of Rome in 1818, where it is currently displayed.
Petronilla, whose name means little rock, is popularly believed to have been the daughter of Saint Peter, whose Greek name, Petros, means rock. Her relics had rested in the catacombs of Rome until 1606, when they were transferred to the basilica church dedicated to her father.
The painting is a portrayal of Saint Petronilla's martyrdom. The representation created by Guercino emphasizes Petronilla's devotion to God above all, but also to the Church and the reward with which she met upon her death. The painted narrative occurs on two tiers, Heaven and Earth. Petronilla is seen being lowered into her grave and at the same time entering Heaven. Both images are aligned along the central vertical axis, mirroring each other. The figures are directly involved in the actions depicted. However, the narrative representation does not exclude the cong
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