Saint Angela Merici

Alessandro Bonvicino, called il Moretto (1498 circa – 1554)

Engraving by Domenico Cagnoni

Funeral portrait of Saint Angela Merici (1540)

From Carlo Doneda Vita della B. Angela Merici da Desenzano

1768

There is documentation that Moretto did produce a funeral portrait of Angela Merici about 1540

The original portrait of the founder of the Order of the Ursulines was in the possession of the Church of S. Orsola in Brescia

The saint died on 27th January 1540 in Brescia and is shown dressed in the habit of a Franciscan tertiary

Her death had a tremendous effect in Brescia and for about a month the city came to a standstill

Her body was laid out in the Church of Saint Afra where many people came to do honour

The painting by Moretto held place of honour by her Order  in Brescia but unfortunately would appear to have been destroyed in an aerial bombardment during the Second World War

It is thought that this is a copy of the painting by Moretto. Copies are in the Casa Sant`Angela in Brescia as well as in the Sacristy of the Duomo in Desenzano