08 Works, Today, July 12th, is Saint Marciana of Toledo's day, her story in art #193

Unknown artist

St. Marciana was not harmed by the lion in the arena

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Saint Marciana of Toledo (died c. 303) was born in Toledo, Spain to a family of nobility. Nevertheless, she abhorred the worldly benefits of a high social status and she put aside her worldly riches. 

Unknown artist

Roman Algeria - Lol or Caesarea 

Mosaic of the Farming Activities

Museum of Cherchell

She decided to travel to Caesarea, Mauretania (modern-day Algeria) and lock herself in a cell within a cave in order to preserve her virginity and consecrate herself to God through various exercises in fasts and other practices of self-deprivation that were used in lieu of martyrdom. Caesarea was by that time occupied by the Roman Empire under the Emperor Diocletian (284-305 A.D.) and hence, Roman influence was rampant around that city. One such influence was the introduction of the Roman gods and pagan worship to the statues of said gods. Marciana's confinement had given her a fervor for the revival of souls to God by means of a holy war on idolatry. She was moved to release herself from her confinement and walk among the proletariats within the city. 

 Leochares

Diana of Versailles, Imperial Era

Marble

H. 2 m (6 ft. 6 ½ in.)

Louvre Museum, Paris

Leochares was a Greek sculptor from Athens, who lived in the 4th century BC.

Leochares worked at the construction of the Mausoleum of Mausolos at Halicarnassus, one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World". The Diana of Versailles is a Roman copy of his original. He is also thought to be the creator of the celebrated Apollo Belvedere, of which a Roman copy is currently housed in Vatican City.


Of his portrait-statues, the most celebrated were those of Philip, Alexander, Amyntas III, Olympias, and Eurydice I, which were made of ivory and gold, and were placed in the Philippeion, a circular building in the Altis at Olympia, erected by Philip II of Macedon in celebration of his victory at Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC). More on Leochares

While walking in the public square, Marciana noticed a statue to the Roman goddess Diana and in her religious zeal, she struck the statue's head off. The defacement of a god's statue was considered a high offence according to Roman culture and Marciana was immediately arrested by a mob that insulted and beat her with rods and brought her before the imperial magistrate to stand trial. Now this was during the time of Christian persecution by the Roman Empire, which involved the killing of Christians in amphitheaters by gladiators and/or wild animals. During her trial, Marciana fearlessly refused to recant either her faith or her actions against the statue of Diana and as result, she was handed over to gladiators to do with her as they wished. However, none of the gladiators were able to touch her because they were overcome by a fear that inhibited any movement. 

Jean-Léon Gérôme, (French, 1824-1904)

The Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer

Oil on canvas

H: 34 5/8 x W: 59 1/8 in. (87.9 x 150.1 cm)

The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland

Jean-Léon Gérôme (11 May 1824 – 10 January 1904) was a French painter and sculptor in the style now known as Academicism. The range of his oeuvre included historical painting, Greek mythology, Orientalism, portraits and other subjects, bringing the Academic painting tradition to an artistic climax. He is considered one of the most important painters from this academic period, and in addition to being a painter, he was also a teacher with a long list of students. More on Jean-Léon Gérôme

During this time Marciana prayed for the gladiators’ salvation and one of them even converted to Christianity. When news of this foiled punishment reached the imperial magistrate, he was perplexed but intent on punishing Marciana. 

Unknown artist

St. Marciana was not harmed by the lion in the arena

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

Thus, he condemned her to be killed in the amphitheater by a wild lion, who only went so far as to touch Marciana's chest and then retreated, as if restrained by an unforeseen force. Witnessing this miraculous scene, many in the crowd were amazed and yelled for Marciana's release. 

skjaldulfr

Saint Marciana of Mauretania

DeviantArt

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

But it is said that a group of Jews riled up the crowd and called for a wild bull to be brought into the arena. 

Francesco Guarino

Saint Agatha, c. 1640

The bull punctured Saint Marcian's breast!

Oil on canvas

Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte, Naples

Francesco Guarino or Guarini (1611-1651 or 1654) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in the mountainous area east of Naples. He was born in Sant'Andrea Apostolo, today a frazione of Solofra in the Province of Avellino, Campania, and died in Gravina di Puglia. He was a pupil first locally of his father, Giovanni Tommaso Guarino, before moving to Naples to work in the studio of Massimo Stanzione. In Naples, like many of his contemporaries there, he was influenced by the style of Caravaggio. In his selection of models who appear to have been plucked from the streets of Naples, he recalls the style of Bernardo Cavallino, the fellow-pupil of Stanzioni. Among his masterpieces are the works for the Collegiata di San Michele Arcangelo in Solofra. More on Francesco Guarino

A bull was set upon Marciana and it punctured her breast with its horns, releasing so much blood that Marciana was temporarily removed from the amphitheater to stop the bleeding. Nonetheless, the magistrate ordered Marciana to be returned to the arena. It is said that Marciana returned courageously to the arena and prayed,

Following this prayer, a leopard was released into the amphitheater and mangled Marciana to death. Through her death St. Marciana's received martyrdom. More on Saint Marciana of Toledo

Unknown artist

The Martyrdom of Saint Marciana, 15th century 

French manuscript

I have no further description of this artwork at this time

In this manuscript, St. Marciana is depicted at three points in time in the story of her martyrdom. At the top of the painting the magistrate condemns the haloed Marciana to be killed in the amphitheater while Marciana is restrained by three assistants as a lion approaches her feet. The bottom of the painting depicts Marciana breast being wounded by a bull and then a dying Marciana falls to the ground as a leopard bites her neck.

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