Saint Ursula
Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 – Bologna 1642) and Studio
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1642
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
572 x 457 mm (22 1/2 x 18 in)
Place of origin
Bologna
Order this imageCollection
Saltram, Devon
NT 872077
Caption
Though traditionally called Saint Faith, the crown, palm and banner denote this as the Brittany princess martyred returning from a visit to Rome at Cologne, Saint Ursula. The banner (instead of the more usual arrow, by which she was killed), denotes her as leader of the 11, 000 virgins who legendarily perished with her. This painting is possibly one of the unfinished paintings left in the artist's studio at his death and completed by a studio hand.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Saint Ursula by Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 – Bologna 1642) and Studio. Head and shoulders looking to the left, in grey dress and olive green cloak over her right shoulder. The background is formed by a silver-grey banner, the staff of which is held in her left hand, a palm of martyrdom in her right. The head suggests in details that it may be autograph but the remainder probably by a studio hand.
Provenance
Traditionally believed to have been bought by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723 - 1792) for John Parker (1734/4 - 88) in 1750/51; and thereafter by descent; accepted by HM Treasury in part payment of death-duties from the executors of Edmund Robert Parker, 4th Earl of Morley (1877-1951) and transferred to the National Trust in 1957
Credit line
Saltram, The Morley Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 – Bologna 1642) and Studio, artist previously catalogued as circle of Francesco Albani (Bologna 1578 - Bologna 1660), artist
References
Saltram, Devon, 1967 The Saltram Collection, Plympton, Devon [National Trust; F. St. John Gore], 1967, p.17 Pepper 1984 D. Stephen Pepper, Guido Reni: A Complete Catalogue of his Works with an Introductory Text, Oxford 1984, Appendix II. Rejected Attributions. Religious Subjects. B19 Tabor, Margaret E, The saints in art :, 1908, p. 116
