DOMENICHINO
(b. 1581, Bologna, d. 1641, Napoli)

Scene from the Lives of the Founding Saints (1)

1609-12
Fresco
Cappella dei Santi Fondatori, Abbazia di Santa Maria, Grottaferrata

The picture shows the scene of Building of the Grottaferrata Monastery and the Nilus Miracle. This scene is located on the right long wall of the main room of the Cappella dei Santi Fondatori. It is one of the seven scenes depicting events from the lives of the two founder saints. A monk lost in thought was approaching the building site when one of the standing columns began to tilt, threatening to fall directly on top of him. While everybody was shouting at him to jump to safety, the monk calmly turned to the column and commanded "Stay!" Thereupon the column straightened up. The miracle was attributed to St Bartholomew the Younger, who was standing nearby.