Curatorial Notes
One of a series of religious paintings commissioned by Pompeo Batoni’s most dedicated patron, Count Cesare Merenda of Forlì, this painting depicts Andrew the Apostle carrying his distinctive X-shaped cross. As the story goes, Saint Andrew welcomed death by crucifixion because it brought him closer to Christ, calling out in his final moments, “Oh Cross, I have desired to embrace you.” Capturing the emotional drama of this moment, Batoni painted the saint with a somber expression, tenderly and affectionately clutching his instrument of torture.
Artwork Identification
Title Saint Andrew
Title (PT) Santo André
Title (ES) San Andrés
Artist Pompeo Girolamo Batoni
Artist Bio Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (Italian, 1708–1787)
Date 1740–43
Work Type Painting
Location & Collection
Institution Art Institute of Chicago
Source View Museum Page
License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
