Saint Helena
c. 1595-1600
About this artwork
A full-length oil painting depicting Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, standing within an architectural setting. She is shown holding a large wooden cross, symbolizing her legendary discovery of the True Cross.
Did you know?
Saint Helena is famously revered in Christian tradition for undertaking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the 4th century, where she is said to have discovered the relics of the True Cross. This depiction by Palma il Giovane, a significant Venetian painter from the late Renaissance and Mannerist periods, captures her dignified bearing with this central symbol of Christian faith. Palma il Giovane was a prolific artist, known for his dramatic and emotive religious works.
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Saint Helena
Jacopo Palma il Giovane, c. 1595-1600
