Prayer of Saint Gregory the Dialogist
unknown (Northern Italian School)
Basic information
- ID
- Ж-21
- Author
- unknown (Northern Italian School)
- Name
- Prayer of Saint Gregory the Dialogist
- Date of creation
- late 17th c.
- Technique
- oil painting
- Material
- canvas oil
- Dimensions (height x width, cm)
- 43 x 74
Additionally
- Type
- painting
- Genre
- religious
- Provenance
- Collection of Leon Pininski
- Exposition
- Potocki Palace
Information about author
Object description
It is believed that the painting depicts a scene from Saint Gregory the Dialogist's life. In 585 or 586, Pope Pelagius II recalled his envoy Gregory to Rome. And when the pontiff died during a severe plague epidemic, Gregory was unanimously elected his successor. Later tradition suggests that he fled Rome, considering himself unworthy of being a bishop. However, Gregory was found and brought back to the city. The saint led penitential processions in Rome during the plague when a miracle occurred: as the people passed by Emperor Hadrian's tomb (now the Castel Sant'Angelo) near the Vatican, Archangel Michael appeared above its dome, sheathing his flaming sword, indicating that the Romans prayers were heard, and the plague ceased. On 3 September 590, after receiving the emperor's approval, Gregory was ordained bishop of Rome and became one of the most influential figures in the empire. The exquisite temple interior serves as the painting's background. Depicted walls are decorated with Corinthian columns with gilded capitals. In the nave of a big Baroque church, a bishop in white garments with a red vestment on his shoulders kneels in front of the altar. The man's torso is turned to the left, his head with a grey beard is raised upwards, and his arms are outstretched forward in a gesture towards the archangel. In front of the bishop, on a cloud, is an image of Archangel Michael and a smaller angel holding military attributes – a shield and a sword. Below them, two angels are unfolding a scroll. In the bottom left corner is an angel with an open book. Behind the bishop, two more angels are holding a shepherd's staff.
Legal regulation
Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery
