13 Works, Today, June 16th, is Saint Vitus's day, his story in Paintings #167

Peter Brueghel the Younger

St. Vitus' dance, c. 1592

Oil on canvas

34.5×46.4 cm

Private collection

The original descriptions of chorea date from the Middle Ages, when an epidemic of “dancing mania” swept throughout Europe. The condition was initially considered a curse sent by a saint, but was named “Saint Vitus's dance” because afflicted individuals were cured if they touched churches storing Saint Vitus's relics.

Unknown artist

St. Vitus

Saint Vitus was the son of an illustrious Sicilian dignitary who tried to turn his son from Christianity, but failed. Paternal love then turned to hatred, and he decided to kill Vitus.

Unknown artist

Saint Vitus, his tutor Saint Modestus and his governess Saint Crescentia

In order to save the boy, his tutor Saint Modestus and his governess Saint Crescentia, who were Christians, secretly took him from his parental home. 

Unknown artist

Holy Martyrs Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia

Jacques Callot

St. Vitus, St. Modestus, and St. Crescentia, c. 1636

Etching

 2 9/16 x 1 15/16 in. (6.5 x 4.9 cm)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jacques Callot (1592 – 1635) was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine. He is an important person in the development of the old master print. He made more than 1,400 etchings that chronicled the life of his period, featuring soldiers, clowns, drunkards, Romani, beggars, as well as court life. He also etched many religious and military images, and many prints featured extensive landscapes in their background. More on Jacques Callot 

They saw a boat at the river, and an angel entered the boat with them. They reached the Italian district of Lucanium, where the saints lived quietly, hiding from those who would persecute them. The holy youth continued to heal the sick and convert pagans to Christianity. His fame soon spread throughout the region.

Unknown artist

The Miracle of Saint Vitus, c. 1490

Saints Vitus and Modestus went to present themselves before Diocletian, and were thrown into prison. Then the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the prisoners, strengthening them for their contest. He helped them, and the fetters fell from their hands.

Unknown iconographer
St. Vitus with dogs, c. nineteenth century

Sicilian golden leaf frame with carvings of flowers and leaves. 

Cm 29x24

Private collection

According to the legend, the imperator Diocletian also tried to torture the young Vitus and, among all things, set one or more dogs with rabies on him. These dogs not only didn’t bite Vitus, but they were cured by him. Because of this legend, the image of Saint Vitus has been associated with that of the dogs.

Unknown artist

Martyrdom of Saint Vitus, circa 1450

Tempera and gold on spruce wood

Height: 153 cm (60.2 in); Width: 124.5 cm (49 in)

Museum: National Museum in Warsaw

Ascribing the miracle to magic, Diocletian ordered that Saint Vitus be thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. The saint stood in it as if in cool water, and remained unharmed. 

Unknown artist

Then a fierce lion was set loose

Henry Zaidan
Saint Vitus of Lucania

Ai Generated

deviantart

Then a fierce lion was set loose. The young man made the Sign of the Cross, and the beast laid at his feet and began to lick them. They tied the holy martyrs to pillars and began to scrape them with iron claws.

Unknown artist

Holy Martyrs Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia

Saint Crescentia came out of the crowd of spectators, confessed herself a Christian and reproached the emperor for his cruelty. He also sentenced her to torture.

Saint Vitus called out to God, “O God, save us by Thy power and deliver us.” Then an earthquake struck, and many pagans perished beneath the collapsed buildings. Diocletian fled to his chambers in fear. An angel released the martyrs from the pillars and took them to Lucanium.

Saint Vitus prayed that God would accept their souls in peace and not deprive those who kept their memory of His benefaction. A Voice came from Heaven, “Thy prayer is heard.” Then the saints joyfully surrendered their souls to God.

The holy martyrs Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia suffered for Christ in the year 303. These saints are also commemorated on June 15. More on Saint Vitus 

 Jeanne and Richard de Montbaston

Martyrdom of St. Vitus and St. Modestus and st.Crescentia

Richard Montbaston was a copyist in Paris in the late 14th  century. From his workshop came out in particular the Roman of the rose , illuminated by his wife, Jeanne.

Having sworn in the booksellers' oath in 1338, Richard de Montbaston is mentioned as a "bookseller" in the colophon in the Life of the Saints . On the other hand, his wife, Jeanne, took the oath of the booksellers in 1353 as illuminatrix and libraria , which gave rise to speculations according to which if Richard had the title of copyist and was indeed the owner of the workshop, he it would be impossible to attribute to him the illuminations of his manuscripts and that they should be due to his wife, Jeanne, although her work is not documented in any surviving manuscript. More on Richard Montbaston

Unknown artist

Fourteen Holy Helpers

The Fourteen Holy Helpers are a group of saints venerated together in Roman Catholicism because their intercession is believed to be particularly effective, especially against various diseases. This group of Nothelfer ("helpers in need") originated in the 14th century at first in the Rhineland, largely as a result of the epidemic that became known as the Black Death.

Saints George, Blase, Erasmus, Pantaleon, Vitus, Christopher, Denis, Cyriacus, Acacius, Eustace, Giles, Margaret, Barbara and Catherine. More on Fourteen Holy Helpers

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