Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index

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Click to view high resolution image Title: Obsequies of St. Fina Creator: Ghirlandaio, Domenico, painter Description: Fina is the patron saint of San Gimignano. She was the daughter of poor parents and lived an ascetic way of life upon the death of her mother. She died from illness at age fifteen on the feast day of Saint Gregory in 1253. At the instant she died, white, beautifully scented flowers blossomed from her bed. Here the saint is depicted as a beautiful young woman lying on a richly decorated bed in front of an altar; the flowers that appeared upon her death are here made of gold embroidery. Kneeling by Fina's bedside is the nurse who tended her before her death. According to Fina's vita, the nurse became paralyzed from holding the saint's head for a prolonged period of time. Here she received a healing touch from Fina's hands and a blind boy regains his sight by touching his eyes to Fina's feet. In the left background an angel rings the death knell from a bell tower—of which San Gimignano had many. The illusionistic architectural setting makes the image appear a real extension of the church interior. The figures to either side of Fina's bed behave realistically—some are emotionally invested while others talk to one another or focus on their task at hand (such as the boy carrying the processional cross). This, coupled with the illusionistic setting, would have given the viewer the impression that he or she was attending an event actively taking place. Source: Wikimedia Commons Rights: Public domain Subject (See Also): Architecture- Religious Classical Influences Death Fina of San Gimignano San Gimignano, Collegiata, Chapel Dedicated to Santa Fina- Two Frescoes, The Annunciation of Santa Fina's Death by Saint Gregory the Great and The Funeral of Santa Fina Funeral Geographic Area: Italy Century: 15 Date: 1475 Related Work: The Annunciation of Santa Fina's Death by Saint Gregory the Great: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Domenico_Ghirlandaio_-_Announcement_of_Death_to_St_Fina_-_WGA08755.jpg Current Location: San Gimignano, Church of the Collegiata, Chapel of St. Fina Original Location: San Gimignano, Church of the Collegiata, Chapel of St. Fina Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Paintings Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Frescoes Donor: Height/Width/Length(cm): // Inscription: Related Resources:

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