On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P02650
- Author
- Goya y Lucientes, Francisco de (Spanish)
- Title
- Saint Justa and Saint Rufina
- Chronology
- 1817
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 45 cm x 29 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- LEGADO
- Procedence
- Legacy of Pablo Bosch y Barrau, 1916
The patron saints of Seville were
potters. They were martyred for
having refused to worship an image
of the goddess, Venus. They are
depicted with their clay pots, or
alcazarras, and the palms of
martyrdom, while a lion licks saint
Rufina's foot. Seville Cathedral,
with the Giralda tower, is visible
in the background. This tower
remained standing after the
earthquake of 1504, thanks to the
saints' miraculous
intervention.
This is one of various sketches
made by the painter for the
painting on the same subject that
is part of the main altarpiece at
the Sacristy of los Cálices in
Seville Cathedral. The Chapter
commissioned this work in 1817 by
way of Agustín Ceán Bermúdez, an
erudite writer on art and friend of
Goya. He set the guidelines for the
representation of this subject.
Goya traveled to Seville to see
where the painting was to hang, and
to study the traditional
iconography of that city's patron
saints.
Location on the map
