VIRGIN WITH SAINTS HELEN, THOMAS THE APOSTLE, AND FRANCIS

Author: Francesco Ruschi

Century: XVII°

Church: Basilica of San Pietro di Castello

DATE:1640

POSITION: right nave – Morosini altar (on map n°7)

METHOD: oil painting

The fouth altar in the right nave was first dedicated to Saint Helen and later to Saint Aurelia, built upon Procuratore Francesco Mororsini’s request, who commissioned the altarpiece to Ruschi.

The altar sides hold two busts of the Procuratore and his wife Elena Cappello, realised by the sculptor Clemente Moli.

The altar preserves Saint Helen’s corpse, transferred from her namesake church, demolished during the Napoleonic period; recently the Saint’s remains were relocated to a church dedicated to her. Currently, the urn safeguards Saint Aurelia’s corpse.