BOTTICELLI, Sandro
(b. 1445, Firenze, d. 1510, Firenze)

Extraction of St Ignatius' Heart

c. 1488
Tempera on panel, 21 x 40,5 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

The picture shows the sixth predella panel of the St Barnaba Altarpiece.

While being martyred, the saint told his tormentors that they would find the name of Christ written on his heart. After his death two curious Christians attempted to find out if this was true. They miraculously discovered golden letters, invisible in this painting, on his heart.