The Burial of St. Petronilla
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The Burial of St. Petronilla is an altarpiece painted by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (Guercino) in 1623. It simultaneously depicts the burial and the welcoming to heaven of the martyred St. Petronilla. The altar, located in St. Peter's Church in Rome, is dedicated to the saint, and contains her relics.
Petronilla, whose name means "little rock", is popularly believed to have been the daughter of St. Peter, whose Greek name, Petros, means "rock". Her relics had rested in the catacombs of Rome until 1606, when they were transferred to the cathedral church dedicated to her father.
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[edit] The painting
The painting, commissioned during the Counter-Reformation, is a dramatic, larger-than-life portrayal of St. Petronilla's martyrdom. The representation Guercino created emphasizes St. Petronilla's devotion to God above all else. In its prodigious display above the altar, it is intended to be a constant reminder of her dedication to the Church and the reward with which she met upon her death.
The altarpiece is a two-tiered painting, showing both Heaven and Earth. Petronilla is seen twice in the painting, once being lowered into her grave and once entering Heaven. Both images are aligned along the central vertical axis, mirroring each other.
The painting is narrative in its form. The figures are directly involved in the actions depicted. However, the narrative representation does not exclude the congregation from its action. It tends more to emphasize its importance over the acts within the lives of the congregation.
The painting is open on all sides. In the lower portion hands reaching up from below the image field can be seen. The congregation is being included in the act of burying the St. The sense of belonging to and being affected by the act in progress is strengthened by its open form. The hands extending toward the Saint break the line between the action in the painting and the world in which the congregation inhabited. It is as though the scene were speaking directly to the congregation, beckoning them to participate in reverence.
[edit] Lower tier
The lower, earthly representation of the painting leans toward the Baroque. There exists a relative clarity, the light shifts from place to place, dark shadows dissolve forms. The right corner hand of the painting dissolves into complete darkness, while light is thrown onto Petronilla and the men lowering her into her grave. The clothing of a blue robed man appears to flow in and out of darks and lights. Overall, the effect creates a sense of immediacy, the here and the now. There is a feeling of chaos and haphazard organization. Figures are cut out of the picture maintaining a feeling of quick movement, a sense of time, emphasizing the effect of disorganization.
The style is painterly, lending to heavy, liquid shadows and tones. There is little unity as we could take any image from the lower tier and have an independent picture. The view of the painting takes on a haptic perspective, a close up scene without an integrated background. However, there is a slight sense of rhythm in the spiraling effect of figures from the lower tier to the top tier.
Though, overall the lower tier of the painting is definite in its depiction of action, defined time and haphazard order. There is a worldly, terrestrial, feeling to the depiction in the lower scene. The warm colors, yellows, and rust even add a sense of earth and dust. The location of the burial scene on the bottom tier, the hands of an unseen man reaching toward the dead saint, the steady action of figures, the focus of attention on the burial of Petronilla, the proximity of the lowering of Petronilla's dead body to the alter where the congregation makes its own sacrifice envelope the congregation into its realm. It becomes part of them and they become part of it. The size of the figures emphasizes the scene's statement, the congregation is made more aware of their part in the painting by its dominating presence.
[edit] Upper tier
The second tier, while maintaining certain elements of the Baroque has started to lean to a classical representation. There is a sense of time, as Petronilla bows before Christ Jesus, however the animation is more suspended, calm, less fleeting. Petronilla's head is bowed before the Christ as he welcomes her, though the angels in heaven are relaxed and calm upon her arrival as they continue to make their own way beside and around her.
Though certain aspects still can be withdrawn independently, there is still a feeling of overall unity. Petronilla's gown is red; however, overall the colors in heaven are cooler and crisp. It lends a feeling of freshness, cleanliness and purity. There remains some relative clarity in the garments worn in the upper tier of the painting, however, when compared to the lower tier, the clarity is more defined. The lines are clearer and depths more definable. The upper tier is farthest away from the congregation, reaching toward heaven. The clarity adds to its sense of order and peace. It is farther for the congregation to reach. There is no direct link between this heaven for the congregation except through Petronilla who has passed from the earth and is greeted by the Christ.
[edit] Critical interpretation
Guercino's depiction of St. Petronilla's burial, is perhaps a guide for the congregation. In depicting the death of a highly venerated Saint, one whose relics have recently been transferred to the alter in the church named for her father, the reverence for the Saint, for the values she placed on her life, is propelled. Shared by the congregation are her death and sacrifice. They are even, in a way, part of it. They are able to see her acceptance into heaven. In the immediate state they are only able to witness this acceptance through Petronilla. Though through their own sacrifice, reverence and devotion, as they are reminded in the painting, they may be able to partake in the same acceptance upon their departure from earth.
