07 Works, Today, June 26th, is Saints John and Paul's day, their story in Paintings #177

Unknown artist

Saints John and Paul, Martyrs of Rome

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

John and Paul are saints who lived during the fourth century in the Roman Empire. They were martyred at Rome on 26 June, in their own home.

Pietro da Cortona,  (1596–1669)

Detail: Saint Constantia's Vision before the Tomb of Saints Agnes and Emerentiana, circa 1654

Oil on canvas

Height: 97.80 mm (3.85 in); Width: 132.10 mm (5.20 in)

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Pietro da Cortona (1 November 1596/7 – 16 May 1669) was born Pietro Berrettini, but is primarily known by the name of his native town of Cortona in Tuscany. He was the leading Italian Baroque painter of his time and, along with his contemporaries and rivals Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini, was one of the key figures in the emergence of Roman Baroque architecture. He was also an important designer of interior decorations.

Cortona worked mainly in Rome and Florence. He is best known for his frescoed ceilings such as the vault of the salone or main salon of the Palazzo Barberini in Rome and carried out extensive painting and decorative schemes for the Medici family in Florence and for the Oratorian fathers at the church of Santa Maria in Vallicella in Rome. He also painted numerous canvases. Only a limited number of his architectural projects were built but nonetheless they are as distinctive and as inventive as those of his rivals. More on Pietro da Cortona

After a successful career of soldiering, Constantine the Great, entrusted Saints John and Paul, who were eunuchs, with the protection of Constantia; his eldest daughter from his second wife Fausta. 

Unknown artist

Emperor Constantine with a model of the Constantinople, c. 1000

Mosaics in the Hagia Sophia

Upon the death of Constantine in 337 and his bequeathal of a formidable inheritance, Saints John and Paul retired to private life, built a house on the Caelian Hill, led exemplary lives and prospered under the reign of Constantine II.

Unknown artist

Julian the Apostate

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In A.D. 361, Julian the Apostate ascended to the imperial throne. From his youth, Julian had exhibited strong pagan tendencies, and reestablished many pagan practices, persecuted the Church, and challenged the authority of bishops throughout the empire.

In the summer of 362, he called Saints John and Paul back to military service in his court. Their acquiescence to Julian’s request would have meant a denial of their Catholic faith, since court officials were required to offer incense to false pagan gods.

Unknown artist

St. John and St. Paul with their martyrdom gear

33.9 x 50.8 cm | 13.3 x 20 inches

Ilstorp, Sweden

Saints John and Paul recoiled at the thought of apostasy. Their refusal enraged Julian who accused them of impiety, a capital crime. Certain that Julian would order their deaths, Saints John and Paul charitably dispersed their earthly possessions to the poor of Rome.

Julian sought to murder them, but he feared public outcry, for the Saints were extremely popular. Thus, the Emperor dispatched Terentianus, an officer of his court, with a murderous objective to their home. When he entered, he found Saints John and Paul at prayer.

Guercino, (1591–1666)

Martyrdom of Saints John and Paul, c. 1632

Oil on canvas

Height: 310 cm (10.1 ft); Width: 205 cm (80.7 in)

Musée des Augustins, Toulouse, France

Depicted people; Virgin Mary , Child Jesus, John the Apostle, Paul

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (February 8, 1591 – December 22, 1666), best known as Guercino, was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from the region of Emilia, and active in Rome and Bologna. The vigorous naturalism of his early manner is in contrast to the classical equilibrium of his later works. His many drawings are noted for their luminosity and lively style.

Mainly self-taught, at the age of 16, he worked as apprentice in the shop of Benedetto Gennari, a painter of the Bolognese School. By 1615, he moved to Bologna, where his work was praised by Ludovico Carracci. Guercino painted two large canvases, Elijah Fed by Ravens and Samson Seized by Philistines, for Cardinal Serra, a Papal Legate to Ferrara. These paintings have a stark naturalist Caravaggesque style, although it is unlikely that Guercino saw any of the Roman Caravaggios first-hand.

Guercino's early works are often tumultuous. He often claimed that his early style was influenced by a canvas of Ludovico Carracci that he saw in the Capuchin church in Cento. Some of his later works are closer to the style of his contemporary Guido Reni, and are painted with more lightness and clearness. More on Guercino

When they rejected Terentianus’ order to offer sacrifice to Jupiter, he ordered them, on Julian’s prior instruction, beheaded on the night of June 26, 362 in their own home. Then Terentianus buried their bodies in the house and spread the rumor that Julian had sent Saints John and Paul into exile.

A certain person, praying in the house, was granted a vision, wherein he saw, and loudly proclaimed, the details of the heinous crime.

Unknown artist

Roman Emperor Julian “the Apostate” is killed during the retreat from the Sasanian Empire. General Jovian is proclaimed Emperor by the troops on the battlefield

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

One year later to the day of the martyrdom of Saints John and Paul, on June 26, 363, Julian the Apostate, was felled by an arrow while campaigning in Mesopotamia. He died with the words “Thou hast conquered, Galilean”. More on Saints John and Paul

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