Sainte Paule de Rome part pour la Terre Sainte
1745
In this dramatic Baroque scene from 1745, St. Paula stands center stage, looking heavenward as she prepares to leave Rome for the Holy Land. She was a wealthy noblewoman who gave up her fortune to live in Bethlehem, making this departure a huge emotional event for her social circle. Above her, a chaotic cluster of cherubs and angels swirl in the clouds, seemingly cheering her on, while below, devoted followers cling to her robes in sorrow. To the right, a large ship waits on the choppy sea, ready to whisk her away. Giuseppe Bottani captures the moment with sweeping drapery and expressive faces, typical of 18th-century religious storytelling.
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