The Miraculous Mass of Saint Martin of Tours with the Apparition of a Ball of Fire above His Head

Q: When was "The Miraculous Mass of Saint Martin of Tours with the Apparition of a Ball of Fire above His Head" created?

This artwork was created 1582–1647.

Q: Is "The Miraculous Mass of Saint Martin of Tours with the Apparition of a Ball of Fire above His Head" in the public domain?

Yes, The Miraculous Mass of Saint Martin of Tours with the Apparition of a Ball of Fire above His Head is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Giovanni Lanfranco

1582–1647

Medium

Pen and brown ink

Dimensions

7 3/16 x 4 1/8in. (18.2 x 10.5cm)

Classification

Drawings

Department

Drawings and Prints

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Eric Wunsch, 1968

Accession Number

68.123.2

Tags

Human FiguresSaintsCrowd

Art Historical Context

Giovanni Lanfranco (1582–1647), a leading Italian Baroque artist trained under the Carracci brothers, masterfully captured dynamic religious drama in this pen and brown ink drawing. Titled *The Miraculous Mass Saint Martin of Tours with Apparition of a Ball Fire above His Head*, depicts the 4th-century saint during a Eucharistic celebration, where a divine fireball hovers overhead—a miracle symbolizing heavenly approval. The intimate sheet (7 3/16 x 4 1/8 in.) teems with a crowded scene of human figures, showcasing Lanfranco's skill in rendering energetic movement and emotional intensity. As ...

About the Artist

Giovanni Lanfranco · 1582–1647

Most famous for his dome frescoes, including the 'Assumption of the Virgin' in the dome of S Andrea della Valle in Rome. Italian artist. Comment on works: History

The Miraculous Mass of Saint Martin of Tours with the Apparition of a Ball of Fire above His Head

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