Extraction of St Ignatius' Heart
by BOTTICELLI, Sandro, Tempera on panel, 21 x 40,5 cm
The picture shows the sixth predella panel of the St Barnaba Altarpiece.
While being martyred, the saint told his tormentors that they would find the name of Christ written on his heart. After his death two curious Christians attempted to find out if this was true. They miraculously discovered golden letters, invisible in this painting, on his heart.