San Grato

Saint Gratus, the second Bishop of Aosta, is the patron saint of the city. The painting depicts the saint with sacred vestments and a pastoral staff, immersing the observer in a context rich in symbolism and spirituality. The work, enriched by the legend of the discovery of the head of Saint John the Baptist by the saint (who in this case is a self-portrait of mine), stands out for the intensity of the details and the suggestive presence of contrasting dark forces. The painting also features the emblems of lightning and the demon, since it was customary in popular tradition to invoke it against evil spirits and against natural disasters that threatened crops.