The Martyrdom of St. Rufina and St. Secunda (“The Painting by Three Artists”)

Giovan Battista Crespi detto il Cerano - Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli detto il Morazzone - Giulio Cesare Procaccini

Download hi-res image TITLE The Martyrdom of St. Rufina and St. Secunda (“The Painting by Three Artists”)
AUTHOR Giovan Battista Crespi detto il Cerano - Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli detto il Morazzone - Giulio Cesare Procaccini
DATE 1620 - 4
OBJECT TYPE AND MATERIAL Oil on canvas
DIMENSIONS cm 192 x 192
ROOM XXX
Work on display

Scipione Toso of Milan commissioned this work to test three artists at once, each in its own area of expertise. Cerano (knows for his macabre taste and his animals) painted the headless Secunda, the knight, the cherub and the dog; Morazzone (famous for battles) painted the executioner, the soldier and the angel with the martyr’s palm; and Procaccini (an expert in pathos) painted Rufina and the consoling angel.