Saint Reparata before the Emperor Decius
ca. 1338–40
Medium
Tempera on wood
Dimensions
Overall 12 3/4 x 16 in. (32.4 x 40.6 cm); painted surface 10 1/2 x 13 7/8 in. (26.7 x 35.2 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Maitland F. Griggs Collection, Bequest of Maitland F. Griggs, 1943
Accession Number
43.98.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
Bernardo Daddi's *Saint Reparata before Emperor Decius* (ca. 1338–40) is a exquisite tempera panel from early 14th-century Florence capturing a pivotal moment in the life of the city's patron saint. The young Reparata, a third-century Christian martyr, stands defiantly before the Roman Emperor Decius in a grand interior hall, refusing to renounce her faith amid threats of persecution. This small-scale work (12¾ × 16 in.), with its luminous gold ground and intricate architectural details, likely formed part of a devotional altarpiece, inviting worshippers to reflect on themes of courage and pie...
About the Artist
Bernardo Daddi · 1250–1360
Comment on works: religious