FRANCO FLEMISH SCHOOL, CIRCA 1500 | SAINT URSULA AND HER PARTY ON THE RHINE

Paris Gallery, Mid 20th Century;

Where purchased by a private collection, Massachusetts;

Thence by descent in the family.

The medieval story of Saint Ursula appears in Jacopo da Varagine's Golden Legend. According to the legend, Saint Ursula’s father was the Christian king of Brittany who betrothed her to a pagan gentleman of high ranking in exchange for his conversion to Christianity. While she was travelling to unite with her intended, Saint Ursula and the 10,000 maidens that accompanied her were massacred in Cologne for their refusal to marry the Huns, a nomadic race from Central Asia who conquered much of Europe.

Some versions of this legend reference how before her marriage, Ursula said she would take a pilgrimage heading to Rome, where she would persuade the Pope to join them. This painting depicts the moment the virgins arrive in Rome and convince the pope to sail with them before their untimely demise at the hands of the invading Huns.