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

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints, 365 Days, and Biblical Icons, also visit my Boards on Pinterest and deviantart

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04 Works, RELIGIOUS ART - Today, January 13, is St. Hilary of Poitiers' Day, With Footnotes - 13

Workshop of Jeanne and Richard de Montbaston

The ordination of Saint Hilary of Poitiers, c. 14th century

Hilary of Poitiers, (300AD – 367AD) was primarily of the Western church but was very much in the framework of thought of the Alexandrian School.  Because he was so aligned to the Eastern school and did little to develop the theology of the West both sides were suspicious of him.  He was stuck between the two as his Latin tongue was not favoured in the East and his affiliation with the East was not favoured in the West.

ST. HILARY OF POITIERS

Waiting for the Savior

Miniature of an eleventh century Frescoed icon

He had very little resources or company to refine his thinking.  Yet, he endeavoured to approach the task of exploring the truth in a highly disciplined way that is so characteristic of the Eastern church.  He tried to reach the uneducated mind making some of his explanations appear as though they were insulting the intelligence of the reader.  As a result, his explanations might appear long winded and convoluted.  These criticisms are by those who were perhaps questioning his allegiances.

St. Hilary of Poitiers Revives the Dead Infant, 12th century 

Manuscript illumination from Codex Bodmer

Fondation Martin Bodmer, Geneva

The Golden Legend's account of this miracle has Hilary lying down in the dust and praying beside the dead body until the two of them rise together. But in this manuscript he simply recalls the child to life at the urging of its mother. More on this work

When Athanasius of Alexandria was condemned at the Council of Milan and was sent into exile, Hilary was one of those who refused to sanction the Emperor’s decision.  He played  a part in gathering support to have this decision overturned and gave a strong letter of protest to the Emperor. This resulted in him being sent into exile in 356AD.  During this time, he wrote his work On the Trinity.  Hilary tried to bring unity between the East and the West by making a clear distinction of  the Persons and the meaning of the relationship between the Father and the Son.  He never fully succeeded in bringing about an orthodox church and state. More on Hilary of Poitiers


Richard Montbaston was a copyist in Paris in the late 14th century. From his studio, in particular, he released the Roman de la rose , illuminated by his wife, Jeanne.

Having taken the oath of the booksellers in 1338, Richard de Montbaston is mentioned as "bookseller" in the colophon of 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 that if Richard had the title of copyist and was the owner of the workshop, he would be impossible to assign the illuminations of manuscripts to his wife, Jeanne, although his work is documented in any surviving manuscript. More on Richard Montbaston

St. Hilary of Poitiers

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, and The Canals of Venice, And visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages