Saint Apollonia c. 1455 - 1460

Piero della Francesca rendered this image of Saint Apollonia in tempera and gold on panel during the Early Renaissance. Apollonia, a virgin martyr, was persecuted for her Christian faith in Alexandria. While the calm and serene classicism of the Renaissance is evident, this painting invites us to contemplate the brutal realities of religious persecution and the complex dynamics of power and gender. Apollonia holds a pair of pincers, the instruments of her torture, which caused her to be known as the patron saint of dentists. The image is an invitation to reflect on the narratives we construct around suffering, faith, and resilience. Apollonia's story is a reminder of the historical struggles faced by individuals who dared to defy social norms and religious expectations, and the emotional toll of such conflicts.