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St. Pelagia
the Penitent
Sculptor
- Pierre Etienne Monnot
He received 80 scudi for the
statue. This work arises about the middle of Monnot's artistic
career.
Statue
Installed - c.1703
Monnot undertook to carry out the
statue in February 1703, and delivered it at the end of June.
Height
- 3.1 m. (10ft 4in) travertine
Here we have the
iconography of women penitents such as Mary of Egypt or Mary
Magdalene. Pelegia has a disheveled look with loose
hair, while holding a skull with the left hand.
The
legend of Pelagia is now thought to be a fiction. She is
described in her legend as a convert prostitute from Antioch
in Syria who lived disguised as a monk on the Mount of Olives
in Jerusalem, being only found out as a woman as the body was
being prepared for his funeral.
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Saints on South Colonnade
Charlemagne Wing
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Saints on South Colonnade
Charlemagne Wing
93. Crescentius, 92. Andrew Corsini
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Sources:
The Book of Saints, ©2002 Edited by Dom Basil Watkins, OSB
Le statue berniniani del Colonnato di San Pietro, ©1987 by de Luca
Editore s.t.l.
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