MADONNA DELL’ORTO
Miracle of Saint Agnes
COMMISSIONED
ARTIST
MEDIUM
INTERACTIVE OVERVIEW
Whats Happening Here
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Your eye goes straight to St Agnes at the center—calm and brightly lit. Around her, the scene breaks into movement and tension.
Tintoretto contrasts stillness with chaos, guiding you through the action in layers from front to back.
Follow the light—it leads you to the key moments while the rest fades into shadow.
Father of Licinius: Roman Prefect
Start here—he kneels before Agnes, pleading for his son’s life. A prefect was a high-ranking Roman official, combining political and military authority.
Licinius
Licinius in blue appears dead laying at Agnes' feet and also as a 2nd blue shape rising above the first and coming back to life. This would have happened after his father begged St Agnes to bring him back from the dead
St Agnes
According to tradition, Agnes was a young Roman Noblewoman (c.291) raised in an early Christian family. When she was 15 she refused the advances of the son of a prominent Roman noble prefect, Licinius, because of her devotion to God and purity. As punishment the prefect condemned Agnes to be dragged naked through the streets on her way to a brothel. Her nudity was miraculously protected by long hair or a shining garment.
Despite reviving Licinius she was accused of witchery and sentenced to death. The attempts to burn her at the stake failed and she was executed by beheading or stabbing to her throat.
St Agnes & the Lamb
The lamb is her key symbol—representing innocence and purity. Her name connects directly:
Latin → agnus = lamb
Italian → agnello = lamb
Angels
The angels carry a crown—symbol of martyrdom and eternal life.
Their unusual blue-green robes may reference the Canons of San Giorgio in Alga, the order that later occupied this church. Known as the Turchini or Azzurini, they were recognized by similar colored garments.
These angels feel weightless and slightly unnatural—hovering rather floating. Their elongated bodies and dim, shifting light give them a ghostlike presence.
Instead of comforting, they add tension—blurring the line between divine and unsettling. This is typical of Tintoretto’s later style, where heavenly figures can feel just as intense and unpredictable as the scene below.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
The Story Behind the Painting
Noble Origins
Agnes was born into a Roman noble family (c. 291) and raised as a Christian.
Refusal & Punishment
At 15, she rejected the advances of a powerful official’s son, Licinius, choosing to remain devoted to her faith. She was punished by being sent to a brothel, guards dragging her naked thru the streets.
Divine Protection
According to tradition, her body was miraculously covered—either by her own hair or by a radiant garment provided by angels.
Death & Revival
During the ordeal, Licinius was struck dead. His father begged Agnes to intervene, and her prayers restored him to life
Martyrdom & Legacy
Despite this, Agnes was accused of witchcraft and executed. The fire meant to kill her failed, and she was ultimately beheaded. This chapel was later rebuilt and dedicated to her by the Contarini family.
1. FATHER OF LICINIUS: ROMAN PREFECT
Here he is seen pleading with Agnes to save his son.
A prefect was a type of military or civil official in Ancient Rome. Prefects ranged from low to very high-ranking military or civil officials of the Roman Empire.
2. LICINIUS
Licinius in blue appears dead laying at Agnes' feet and also as a 2nd blue shape rising above the first and coming back to life. This would have happened after his father begged St Agnes to bring him back from the dead.
3. ST AGNES
According to tradition, Agnes was a member of the Roman nobility, born in AD 291 and raised in an early Christian family.
When she was 15 she refused the advances of the son of a prominent Roman noble prefect, Licinius, because of her devotion to God and purity.
As punishment the prefect condemned Agnes to be dragged naked through the streets on her way to a brothel. Roman law did not permit the execution of virgins, which is why she was tortured. In one account, as she prayed, her hair grew so long that it covered her naked body and in another angels brought her a shining garment.
While all this was going on, Licinius was struck dead by God. His father, shown here in red, pleaded with Agnes to intervene to save his son. Her prayers brought him back to life.
Despite reviving Licinius she was accused of witchery and sentenced to death.
She was bound to a stake, but the bundle of wood would not burn. The officer in charge drew his sword and beheaded her, or in some accounts stabbed her in the throat.
The saint's relics are documented to have been in the church since at least 1542. ????? really, relics or bones also in 2 churches in Rome???? where are they?
4. ST AGNES & LAMB
Her name means lamb in both latin and Italian. Her attribute is also a lamb.
Latin: agnus=lamb
Italian: agnello = lamb
5. ANGELS
The original founders of the church, the Umiliati were expelled in 1461 by the Council of Ten because of their 'depraved habits'. The Canons of San Giorgio in Alga replaced them (they were an order who didn't believe in building new churches and were committed to occupying old churches)
Canons are clerics who live together in community but they also have duties beyond their own community’s enclosures. They are meant to engage in acts of mercy, preaching, and public liturgy.
They were also known as the Turchini, Celestini or Azzurini because of their unusual blue/green robes.
The angels unusual blue coloured robes could be a nod to the this order of the church.
The angels are also seen carrying the crown of eternal life.