Diego Velázquez
Saint Rufina
1629-32
Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes, Seville
According to her legend, St. Rufina was a maker of earthenware of the 3rd century who refused to make vessels for use in pagan rites. For this she was martyred. Thus the artist gives her a martyr's palm and some samples of her wares. Her clothing and coiffure are of course in the style of the 17th century rather than the 3rd.
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Read more about SS. Rufina and Justa.
Photographed at the site by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.