Saint Lucy
c. 1625-1630
Look closely at the silver platter held by this serene young woman—those are her own eyeballs! This is Saint Lucy, the patron saint of the blind, depicted by Spanish Baroque master Francisco de Zurbarán. According to legend, Lucy either gave her eyes to a suitor who wouldn't stop staring at them, or they were gouged out during her martyrdom, only for God to miraculously restore them. Zurbarán captures her with striking realism, from the delicate flower crown to the eerie, lifelike gaze of the eyes on the plate, making this a hauntingly beautiful tribute to faith and sacrifice.
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