St. Camillo de Lellis Receiving the Red Cross from Christ and the Virgin Mary

18th century
La Maddalena, Rome

This is essentially an allegory of the historical decree of Pope Sixtus V that authorized the wearing of a red cross on the habit of the Order of Clerks Regular. Christ takes a large red cross in hand to give it to St. Camillo, founder of the order. And Mary hands him a banner with crosses of blue, her color.

The putti in the foreground hold objects related to the founding of the order.

Read more about St. Camillo de Lellis.

Photographed at the church by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.