Reliquary of Sts Marcellino and Peter Martyr (detail)

In 1506 Benedetto Briosco was engaged by officials of the church of San Tommaso, Cremona, to execute a large reliquary to house the remains of the martyr saints Peter and Marcellino. Although work proceeded intermittently until 1513, the project was never finished; the reliefs carved by Briosco are installed in the recomposed monument in the crypt of Cremona Cathedral.

The carved bands illustrate the “Life of the two Holy Martyrs”, while the central figure of the “Risen Christ” comes from the Tomb of St Arealdo by Giovanni Antonio Amadeo.