St John the Almoner
by BISCAINO, Bartolomeo, Oil on canvas, 138 x 99 cm
The subject represents St John the Almoner also known as St John the Merciful. As the patriarch of Alexandria in the early seventh century, he took it upon himself to help all those in need, above and beyond his calling.
The artist’s emphasis on natural representation, emotional expressions of the figures, and the use of vibrant colours place this composition squarely in the tradition of the Genoese Masters of the Baroque period.