Some religious paintings can be very gruesome indeed. A little known painting by Tiepolo, The Last Communion of St Lucy, in the Capella Corner of Santi Apostoli in Venice, shows poor Lucy after her eyes have been put out. They are displayed on a tray at the bottom of the painting.
Lucy was a Sicilian noblewoman born in Syracuse around 300AD. She pledged herself to God, taking a vow of chastity and poverty. The man she was promised to in marriage denounced her to the Consul, accusing her of being christian.
She was committed to a brothel, but, filled with the Holy Spirit, she became immovable, and dozens of men could not move her. Finally, after having her sprinkled with urine (said to drive out evil spirits), then boiling oil mixed with pitch and resin, the Consul had the saint’s throat cut and her eyes put out.
Miraculously, Lucy could still speak after her throat had been cut, continuing to invoke the name of God. Poor Lucy is the patron saint of opticians and those suffering from eye diseases.
The church of Santi Apostoli is in Cannaregio, not far from the Ca d’Oro or Rialto Vaporetto stop.
We were pointed in Lucy’s direction by Secret Venice by Thomas Jonglez and Paolo Zoffoli…the best Venice guide book.
Well done Debra! Three years ago I published an historical research about St. Lucy and her iconography. The Tiepolo painting in Venice is surely one of the most important, together with the Caravaggio canvas in Siracusa. Yes, the tradition tells about her eyes, but historical researches say that she was decapitated. Always In Venice (in St.Geremia and St. Lucy church) you may admire the sacred reliquary of St. Lucy.
By: Roberto Alborghetti on August 26, 2014
at 1:00 pm
Next time I go to Venice I will seek out your suggestion, thank you.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:43 pm
Yes, I agree with Roberto Alborghetti. Most researchers Believe that St Lucy was decapitated. There are many legends surrounding her and some of them are quite gruesomo, but then Diocletian’s persecution was without mercy. It is believed that St Lucy’s appointment as patroness of the blind people is due to her name, as it comes from the Latin word “lux” which means light. This is why in Scandinavia they celebrate her day, the 13th of December, with the “Festival of Lights” in which young girls dressed in white with a red sash ( a reminder of Lucy’s martyrdom) also wear crowns with lit candles.
In any case, a most interesting painting. Thank you, Debra, for sharing it with us.
By: mulino dominillo on August 26, 2014
at 2:21 pm
There is also an argument that she didn’t exist at all.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:42 pm
That is stunningly gruesome!!
By: The Daily Cure on August 26, 2014
at 3:28 pm
I hope it is a tall tale.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:41 pm
as bad as saint agata having her breasts cut off as we saw in catania sicily – we thought she was bringing a dish of two puddings before her
By: Francis Pettitt on August 26, 2014
at 5:50 pm
There is a church in Rome lined with these gruesome paintings.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:41 pm
Thank you for sharing
By: Cindy Naidoo on August 26, 2014
at 6:33 pm
It is an interest tale.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:40 pm
What a gruesome tale…
By: suej on August 26, 2014
at 6:42 pm
Isn’t it??
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:40 pm
Thanks for this post. My brother has problems with one eye due to a bad surgery and since we are Catholic I will find out about this Saint.
By: simplysands on August 26, 2014
at 9:39 pm
Poor Lucy really suffered for her sainthood.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:39 pm
Wow … now there’s a story I didn’t know. I wonder how many people look at the painting, and don’t notice the plate with the eyes.
By: aFrankAngle on August 27, 2014
at 1:06 am
That is quite possible. We may not have noticed the eyes had it not been for the book.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:38 pm
One can learn a lot from other bloggers, that’s one reason why I enjoy reading your blog. You are attentive to detail. Thanks!
By: An Englishwoman in Italy on August 27, 2014
at 2:10 pm
Thank you for your kind comments. I do like to look for the details.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:37 pm
A grisly tale, Debra, and just before my bedtime too. 😕
By: anotherday2paradise on August 27, 2014
at 7:46 pm
Grisly indeed. I hope these are just stories.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:35 pm
Me too.
By: anotherday2paradise on August 28, 2014
at 2:49 pm
Very nice story of physical body over soul and spirit. Love the focus shot transforming to the far shot. It’s like watching a movie… I think that’s brilliant presentation of the images you took.
By: rommel on August 28, 2014
at 3:07 am
They really thought up some horrible punishments for anyone who didn’t do the expected thing.
By: Debra Kolkka on August 28, 2014
at 2:34 pm
Oh my goodness, those were some gruesome times! 😮
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on August 29, 2014
at 4:08 am
All in the name of religion !
By: Anonymous on August 31, 2014
at 12:13 am
Wow. That’s such an amazing story…and gory.
By: cityhippyfarmgirl on August 31, 2014
at 6:19 am
[…] here, here and here for more secret finds…there will be more to […]
By: St Mark’s square is not square | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on January 1, 2015
at 9:32 pm
[…] In the church above we found “Lucy’s eyes” on a previous when we were on a quest to find things in Secret Venice, a book filled with interesting things to discover. Lucy’s eyes […]
By: Venice and covid 19 | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on June 28, 2020
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