# Saint Andrew

- By: Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (Italian, 1708–1787)
- Date: 1740–43
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Classification: Painting
- Dimensions: 74 × 61 cm (29 1/8 × 24 in.); Framed: 94 × 82 cm (37 × 32 1/4 in.)
- Culture: Italy
- Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Joseph Regenstein through the Joseph and Helen Regenstein Foundation
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/11575)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/web/633cd1440fe207aeb34d7723e5071095.jpg
- Who can see it: Adult profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

One of a series of religious paintings commissioned by Pompeo Batoni’s most dedicated patron, Count Cesare Merenda of Forlì, this painting depicts Andrew the Apostle carrying his distinctive X-shaped cross. As the story goes, Saint Andrew welcomed death by crucifixion because it brought him closer to Christ, calling out in his final moments, “Oh Cross, I have desired to embrace you.” Capturing the emotional drama of this moment, Batoni painted the saint with a somber expression, tenderly and affectionately clutching his instrument of torture.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0