Saint Appollonia
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Authors
Alessandro Algardi, attributed to
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Keyword
Saint Apollonia , Procession , Canopy , Algardi
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Abstract
In the second chapel on the right in the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo in Ariccia stands a large polychrome wood sculpture of Saint Apollonia, the town’s patron saint. The figure is placed within a processional baldacchin dating to the late nineteenth century and is carried through the streets of Ariccia during the Festa di Santa Apollonia on February 9th. The town first celebrated the saint in 1622. Today, eight members of the local confraternity shoulder the canopy in procession.
The polychromy is well preserved and possibly modern. Saint Apollonia wears a tall crown with jewels, and her dress is entirely gilded. In her right hand she holds pincers with a large tooth—a reference to her martyrdom. According to tradition, Saint Apollonia was tortured by having her teeth violently extracted. She is missing a finger on her right hand, while one finger has been reattached.
Placards and pamphlets in the church attribute the sculpture to Alessandro Algardi (1595–1654), or his circle, and date it to 1630. However, Jennifer Montagu’s catalogue raisonné on Algardi includes no mention of this work, either among his known oeuvre or pieces attributed to his immediate circle. Church signage also states that the statue was donated to the parish in 1629 by a Princess Isabella Savelli—yet we haven’t been able to find a record of Princess Savelli.
Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.
Description
Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo, Arricia
Citation
Info in church; “Calendario dei festeggiamenti ad Ariccia,” Advisor Ariccia, https://advisorariccia.wordpress.com/info/calendario-dei-festeggiamenti/; “Festa patronale di Santa Apollonia,”ParchiLazio.it, https://www.parchilazio.it/schede-450-festa_patronale_di_santa_apollonia.