Novo-Hispanic school; XVII century.
"Heads of... Lot 49
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Novo-Hispanic school; XVII century.
"Heads of St. John and St. Anastasius".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
It presents faults on the pictorial surface and in the frame caused by xylophages.
Measurements: 30 x 41 cm; 39 x 50 cm (frame).
During the baroque and in a more consolidated way in later epochs scenes where several saints starred images in a joint way were popularized with a didactic purpose, since they represented analogous concepts. In this case it is the representation of San Anastasio and San Juan Bautista, both decapitated. The legends next to them help to identify the protagonists of the scenes, thus enhancing the didactic interest of the artist who, through the pathos of the subject matter, tries to transmit to the faithful the exemplary life of the saints.
As a soldier in the army of Cosroes II, Anastasius was struck by the fact that the cross of Christ (which the Sassanid king took as a trophy to Persia in 614) was venerated by Christians as an instrument of torture and death. He was also interested in the cross as an instrument that worked miracles. His curiosity led him to learn about the Christian religion and later to his conversion. He left the army and moved to Jerusalem where he was baptized, changing his name from Magundat to Anastasius and becoming a monk. Years later he went to preach the Christian doctrine in Palestine where he was imprisoned and tortured. Finally he was beheaded in 627.
It presents faults on the pictorial surface and on the frame caused by xylophages.
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