Martydom of St Processo and St Martiniano

Attribution:

Suit Boy

Key Dates

1629

This painting was completed by Valentin in 1629.

Key People

Valentin de Boulogne (1591-1632), sometimes referred to as Le Valentin, was a French painter. Born in Coulommiers, he probably moved to Rome in 1613, where he underwent the influence of Caravaggio. After a difficult period, he found favour with Cardinal Francesco Barberini from whom he obtained numerous commissions, among which the Martyrdom of St Processo and St Martiniano gave him definitive fame.

Martydom of St Processo and St Martiniano was executed for an altar of the right transept of St Peter's Basilica. The references to the Martyrdom of St Erasmus, painted by Poussin for a nearby altar, are clear, so much so that the two works were considered at first as being in competition with one another.
Contemporaries acknowledged that the purely Caravaggio style painting (due to its realism and the particular use of light) of Valentin exceeded that of Poussin in naturalism, force, richness and harmony of colour.

Origin & Collection

Additional information on display location:

Pinacoteca, Room XII

Reference Number:

40381

Physical properties

Width:

192.00cm

Height:

302.00cm

Images

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