Saints at St. Peter's Square

I took this photograph in Vatican City at the Piazza San Pietro in the fall of 2022. I am fascinated by the statues, martyrs of early Christian times that are now saints, sitting atop the famous colonnades of the square. The colonnades were designed by Bernini and built between 1656 and 1667, a gigantic undertaking that nearly bankrupted the papacy (source).

There are 140 total saints and heroes of faith sitting atop Bernini's famous colonnades, and they are approximately 3 meters high. The figures were Bernini's idea, but their design and completion were undertaken by two of his students - the sculptors Morelli and Maria de Rossi along with their workshops. The ones in this photograph were created c. 1702-1703 (source).

• Gervase (Raffaelli) & Protase (Giorgini), patron saints of Milan, haymakers and discovering thieves, said to have been scourged and beheaded during Nero's reign (source)

• Rufus (Tomassini) and Zosimus (Casella), killed by beasts in the Roman arena during Trajan's reign (source)

• Cosmas (Fantasia) and Damian (Napolini), twin brothers, physicians who accepted no payment for their services. Arrested with three other brothers during Diocletian's reign, tortured, hung on a cross, stoned, shot by arrows, and beheaded (source)

The print is made on a master's edition, archival museum-quality paper, and is ready for you to frame!

Product Features:

• Sustainably created through Gelato.

• The paper is FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) or equivalent depending on regional availability. 

• Matte paper is uncoated and natural white (off-white). The 250 gsm/ 110lb paper is perfect for fine art, designed to last for years without losing its original beauty.

• With alkaline papermaking technology, this print is acid-free, meaning the pH of the pulp that is used to form the paper is above 7 (neutral). The paper is also buffered with an alkaline reserve, such as calcium carbonate, to neutralize acid compounds absorbed from the atmosphere or formed through natural aging. This ensures that your poster will last many years without any yellowing or discoloration.

• The print is free from or low in OBA (optical brightener additives). This ensures that the natural white color of the paper remains consistent under different lighting conditions. In contrast, the color of papers that contain optical brighteners can shift depending on the light source. Additionally, the color of OBA-free paper remains more consistent over time, so you can enjoy the poster for years without any shifts.

About the photograph:

November 16, 2022

Shot on Nikon Z7ii

ƒ/4 1/250 50mm ISO200