St. Julian
Lorenzo Costa
Italian, ca. 1460–1535

Details
Title
St. Julian
Artist/Maker
Lorenzo Costa (Italian, ca. 1460–1535)
Date
ca. 1480s
Medium
Tempera on panel
Dimensions
14 7/8 x 5 1/2 inches (FRAMED IN PAIRS)
Credit
Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation
Accession #
58.38 a
St. Julian the Hospitaller is one of eight saints Lorenzo Costa painted in the late 1400s. The graceful figures originally flanked a central devotional image on a monumental altarpiece, likely in or near Bologna, Italy. The saints are identifiable by their attributes and by their names, which are inscribed underneath them in a northern Italian dialect. Devotees used this information to find the saints who were most relevant to their personal needs. St. Julian the Hospitaller holds a dagger, referring to the prophecy that he would kill his parents. He tried to avoid the prophecy, but it became true, and he built a hospital in an effort to repent. He is the patron saint of hospital workers, innkeepers, and travelers.
More from this Artist
Browse Related Artwork

Rahim Fortune

Evelyn Massengill

Barbara Peacock

Rahim Fortune

Mike Disfarmer

Evelyn Massengill

Kristine Potter

Mike Disfarmer

Evelyn Massengill

Evelyn Massengill

Paul Mpagi Sepuya

Evelyn Massengill