Saint Margaret of Cortona 1753 - 1763

This painting by Gaspare Traversi, an Italian artist who was born in 1722 and died in 1770, depicts the life of Saint Margaret of Cortona. The painting is a detailed and emotionally charged scene, with a focus on the saint's spiritual struggles. The saint is surrounded by an angel, who is offering her a crown, a symbol of her holiness and the triumph of good over evil, a devil who is bound and defeated. The inclusion of a young girl and a dog adds to the narrative, hinting at the saint's role as a protector of children and animals. The artwork is a testament to the artist's skill, with exquisite detail and an evocative use of light and shadow. It is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.