Location on North Colonnade




69. St. Gervase
The 140 Saints of the Colonnade

Location Area
Constantinian Wing

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Saints 22-44
Saints 45-70
Saints 71-96
Saints 97-119
Saints 120-140


 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




St. Gervase
Died - c. second century

Feastday - 19 June

Statue created - c.1702-1703
The statue was commissioned in January 1702 and delivered in July 1703.

Sculptor - Giuseppe Raffaelli
Raffaelli reveived 80 scudi for the work. The statue does not have stylistic comparisons with other works by the sculptor.
 
Height - 3.1 m. (10ft 4in) travertine
The saint is presented in Roman dress, and holding the palm of martyrdom. The drapery of the cloak, which falls in soft folds, is considered quite successful.

St  Gervase was martyred in Milan together with his brother St Protase (68), during the second century. They are the patron saints of Milan.

Much of what we know of them, relies on a dream by St Ambrose.  The Roman Martyrology 2004 entry for 19 June reads: "The commemoration of Sts Gervase and Protase, martyrs, whose bodies were found by St Ambrose and transferred to a newly built basilica on this day with much solemn ceremony."

 

Saints on North Colonnade
Constantinian Wing
near St Peter's Basilica

70. Thomas Aquinas

69. Gervase 
68.Protase

Saints on North Colonnade
Constantinian Wing

69. Gervase
68. Protase

 

Sources:
Roma Sacra - San Pietro in Vaticano, Itineraries 21-22, ©Fabbrica of St. Peter's, July 2001
Le Statue Berniniani del Colonnato di San Pietro by Valentino Martinelli ©1987 by de Luca Editore

 

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