Apotheosis of St Ursula, Renaissance altarpiece at Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, Italy
The Apotheosis of Saint Ursula is a large altarpiece in tempera on canvas showing the saint's elevation to heaven surrounded by heavenly attendants. The composition arranges multiple figures within detailed architectural spaces that extend across the entire painted surface.
This altarpiece was painted in 1491 as part of a cycle depicting the life of Saint Ursula, commissioned by the Loredan family for a Venetian church context. The work formed one segment of a larger narrative series about the saint that unfolded through multiple panels.
The painting shows Saint Ursula ascending to heaven surrounded by heavenly figures, using architectural details that reflect how people of the time imagined the sacred and the divine. The work combines religious narrative with the visual language of Venetian religious spaces that existed in the painter's era.
The work is displayed in Hall XXI of the Gallerie dell'Accademia, where daylight from windows helps viewers see the fine details of the composition. You can get the best view by moving around the space and observing it from different angles.
X-ray examination revealed male portraits painted over the original surface after the work was completed, showing that the composition was revised years later. These hidden layers demonstrate how artists would modify their paintings as circumstances changed over time.
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