A Saint on His Deathbed

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St Stanislaus Kostka by Pierre Legros, Sant' Andrea al Quirinale

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The beautiful polychrome sculpture (1702-03) of St Stanislaus Kostka, in the Baroque church of Sant' Andrea al Quirinale, is the work of the French sculptor Pierre Legros the Younger (1666-1719).

Stanisłaus Kostka (1550-68) was a Polish novice of the Society of Jesus, who died during the night of August 14th/15th, aged only eighteen. Kostka was beatified in 1605 and a century later Legros was commissioned to create the sculpture of the novice lying on on his deathbed. 

Legros employed a range of marbles: black touchstone for his habit, Sicilian jasper and yellow marble for the bedding, and gilt bronze for the fringe. His hands, feet and head are carved from white Carrara marble. The sculpture is to be found in the actual chamber in which the youth died. 

Stanisłaus Kostka was canonised in 1726.  

Legros died in Rome on May 3rd, 1719, and is buried in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi.