Saint Agnes

Abstract

In the back left corner of the high altar of Sant’Agnese Fuori le Mura in Rome is an alabaster and gilded bronze and silver statue of Saint Agnes by French sculptor Nicolas Cordier (1567-1612). The sculpture was completed between 1604 and 1605. It measures 1.15 metres with the base. which is 0.112 metres high. Cordier repurposed a Roman alabaster torso (from the bottom of the neck to the knees) and added a gilded bronze head, neck, hand with palm, legs, and feet. Saint Agnes is holding a lamb in her right hand and a palm frond in her left hand. The lamb is a symbol of her virginity and innocence, and the frond symbolizes her martyrdom. Cordier has idealized her face from sculpture from antiquity and crowned her curls with flowers. The sculpture has undergone various restorations. It was first re-gilded under Pius IX (reigned 1846–1878), at which time a crown was also added (now removed). The frond has been replaced numerous times and the lamb’s head has also changed directions after restoration, according to photographic records. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.