THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT URSULA THE SCENE

THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT URSULA THE SCENEThe protagonist of the image is Saint Ursula, a Martyr who, as Caravaggio often does, is depicted in a completely different way from the tradition. In fact, instead of filling the scene with halos and anges, the artist offers a more realistic scenario.Michelangelo Merisi, generously draws on the stiry of martyrdom, painting on canvas the moment she refused to give herself to Attila, and the man, in response, killed her with an arrow. It is very dark and it is difficult to see certain details;  The man in the left foreground is Attila, who has been '' modernized '' in 16th century clothing; if we look at his expression, it seems that he had already regretted having reacted instinctively to Saint Ursula's refusal by killing her with an arrow.Caravaggio offers an extremey human Attila, incredulous to have committed such an atrocity, and about to drop the weapon with which he has just struck the Saint. Three other characters surround the two protagonists: they are barbarians in the service of Attila.