One of most precious piece of art in Milan Cathedral, is the sculpture of St. Bartholomew, by Marco D’Agrate, made around 1562 and placed in the right transept of the Cathedral.
St. Bartholomew was condemned to one of most cruel and inhuman execution: the Syrian martyrdom. That is being skinned alive and then beheaded.
The statue depictes the saint flayed with the Bible in hand. The masterpiece is characterized by fine precision anatomical with which the human body is rendered devoid of skin, with the skin thrown like a stole on the shoulders and body of the martyr.
The sculptor, with not too much modesty, signed it on the bottom of the statue. “NON ME PRAXITELES SED MARCO FINXIT AGRAT.” (“I was not sculpted by Praxiteles, but by Marco d’Agrate”).
certainly a stunning statue…but what a horrific way to die, it is unimaginable the sort of mind belonging to the person who could do this to another human being!!!!!
According to the facts narrated, Bartholomew converted to the Christian faith Polimio , the king of Syria and his bride. That caused the envy of local priests, who stirred up Astyages, the king’s brother. For this reason, Astyages decreed for him this cruel martyrdom.