Microfiber 2024-2025

The miracle of Saint Fiorenzo of Tours painted by Marco Benefial in 1741, at the church of the Collegiate Church of San Fiorenzo, Fiorenzuola D’Arda (Piacenza).

Fiorenzo (mid-5th century – 527 a.d), a French monk from the Loire Valley in France, during the pilgrimage to Rome passing through the Monginevro pass, stopped in Fiorenzuola D’Arda (515 AD) and here he performed the miracle of bringing back to life the feudal lord’s daughter.

The painting:

The image of Saint Fiorenzo evokes the figure of Jesus with his index finger pointing towards the sky, his head surrounded by light, his smooth brown hair, the thread of a beard that frames the oval of his face, the seraphic expression, the humble robe of the pilgrim but as a distinctive element the Saint displays a chain with Jesus crucified. The gesture means that the miracle comes from God and that he, a humble pilgrim, is nothing other than the intermediary of the thaumaturgical event.

The little miracle-worker, whose little hand is supported by Fiorenzo, sits up on the catafalque covered by a black cloth on which, by virtue of her tender age, a white linen with a lace edge had been spread.

In the right corner a figure on all fours (perhaps a pilgrim traveling companion of Saint Fiorenzo) humbles himself, adoring the divine power; next to him are two young girls, the only two figures who turn their backs to the scene, one of whom holds in her hands a crown of flowers that has a double meaning: the cut flowers symbolize the brevity of life, but perhaps in this case we can identify three roses, the coat of arms of Fiorenzuola, so called from the etymology “flos”, flower.

The character behind the miracle-worker, concentrated on observing the event, with a little eyeglass and ruff, is the doctor; his incredulous and almost impassive attitude contrasts with the joyful and amazed enthusiasm of the girl with raised arms who is next to him (perhaps the nurse).