St. Euphemia 1454

Andrea Mantegna painted Saint Euphemia in oil on canvas, likely sometime in the late 1400s. Mantegna lived in a time of growing humanist interest; and his paintings often reflect his engagement with classical antiquity and its ideals. Here, Saint Euphemia stands as a composed, feminine figure bearing the symbols of her martyrdom. Her serene gaze meets the viewer, but her story tells of political and religious conflict. As a young Christian woman in the 4th century, Euphemia was persecuted for her faith, eventually martyred under Roman rule. Mantegna’s portrayal exists in tension between the vulnerability of her youth and the strength of her convictions. He uses classical artistic conventions to ennoble her, thus emphasizing the power of faith to transcend earthly suffering. Though she stands as an individual, Euphemia is representative of collective experiences of persecution and stands as a symbol of resilience.