Lot 1523 D α

The scene depicts an event from the life of Saint Agatha. According to tradition, Agatha was born in Sicily to wealthy parents. As a virgin consecrated to God, she rejected the marriage proposal of the pagan governor Quintinianus. Because Agatha rejected him, he had her dragged off to a brothel for a month. Since she still refused him after this time, Quintinianus had her condemned and had her breasts cut off. After this torture, according to legend, Saint Peter appeared to her in prison at night and tended her wounds. She then suffered her death while lying on red-hot coals.