Sts Agatha and Lucy
by COZZARELLI, Guidoccio, Tempera on panel, 59 x 34 cm
This panel of Sienese in origin has been attributed both to Cozzarelli and Matteo di Giovanni, who was probably the teacher of Cozzarelli around 1470. Cozzarelli has usually been regarded as an uninspired follower of Matteo, but this is contradicted by his two altarpieces in the church of San Bernardino in Sinalunga. Many of Matteo’s late works have often been assigned to Cozzarelli, while Cozzarelli’s best paintings are still taken for Matteo’s.
The painting consists of two panels which were joined together in the 19th century. They possible were the lateral panels of a triptych.
St Agatha and St Lucy were two of the early Christian martyrs. Both are depicted here carrying the symbols of their martyrdom: St Agatha her breasts and St Lucy her eyes.