The Triumph of Saint Hermenegild. Franciso Herrera the Younger

Saint Hermenegildo was a prince, the son of the Visigothic king Leovigildo.

His family followed the Arianism religion, but Saint Hermenegildo converted to Catholicism.

Arianism is a belief that Jesus Christ was not divine, while Catholics believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ.

The father of Saint Hermenegildo disagreed with the decision to change religion.

As punishment, he imprisoned Hermenegildo and beheaded him.

Before dying, Saint Hermenegildo refused to receive communion from an Arian bishop.

The Catholic Church recognised him as a martyr.

A martyr is a person who suffers and dies for defending their religion or beliefs.

In the painting, some angels surround Saint Hermenegildo.

The angels carry objects that represent his life.

For example, one angel holds the axe that was used to behead him.

There are 2 men at the bottom of this painting.

The man wearing armour is his father.

Beside the father is the Arian bishop.

The painting uses a lighting technique that highlights Saint Hermenegildo while darkening King Leovigild and the bishop.

This use of contrast and the positioning of the figures were intended to make the painting visually striking when displayed on an altar in a church.

Francisco Herrera the Younger is the author of this painting.

He was the son of Francisco Herrera the Elder, another Spanish painter.

Francisco Herrera the Younger was born in Seville and was a painter and an architect.

He travelled to Italy to refine his painting skills, and when he returned, he became an important painter of Spanish Baroque art.

The Baroque is a style of art from the 17 century.

When Francisco Herrera the Younger returned to Spain, he painted religious scenes for churches, convents, and cathedrals.

He also founded the Academia de Bellas Artes (Academy of Fine Arts) of Seville with other important painters of the time.

Later, Francisco Herrera the Younger began working for the royal family as the painter for King Philip the Fourth.

Francisco Herrera the Younger painted this picture after returning from Italy.

It took him 4 months to paint it.

The painting adorned the Convent of the Barefoot Carmelites altarpiece in Madrid.

An altarpiece is a wooden structure that covers the wall behind the altars in churches.

An altarpiece contains sculptures and paintings.