FOLLOWER OF FRANCISCO DE ZURBARÁN | SAINTS AGATHA, LUCY AND APOLLONIA

Francisco de Zurbarán created several images of virgin martyrs, such as Saint Apollonia in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (inv. no. M.I. 724), Saint Lucy in the National Gallery of Art, D.C. (inv. no. 1943.7.11), and Saint Agatha in the Musée Fabre, Montpellier (inv. no. 852.1.3). These appear to have inspired the artist of the present lot who also portrays each saint as a beautifully dressed woman, styling the jewels and garments in vogue in Seville during the 17th Century. Just like Zurbarán’s portraits of saints did, this painting alludes to the sufferings each saint endured during Christian persecutions through the emblems they hold.

Saint Agatha, known as the patron saint of cancer, is shown with a shiny plate with cut breasts. During the persecution of Decius, she was tortured and supposedly had her breasts cut off.

Saint Lucy supposedly had her eyes removed during the Diocletianic Persecution of Christians and is represented holding a dish with two cut eyes. According to the story her eyes were miraculously restored during her burial, thus making her the patron saint of the blind, or the protector of sight.

Saint Apollonia, who holds a pair of pincers with a tooth, is regarded as the patron of dentistry since it has been said that her teeth were violently pulled out during the uprising against Christians in Alexandria, prior to the persecution of Decius.