Who painted The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt?

The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt was painted by Sebastiano Ricci in c. 1695.

Where can I see The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt?

The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt?

The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt?

Museum-quality prints of The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt

Sebastiano Ricci , 1695

The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Sebastiano Ricci. It dates from 1695 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

The physical dimensions and material composition remain the primary documented formal qualities of the artwork.

Executed in 1695, this religious painting by Sebastiano Ricci utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work presents a large-scale composition, measuring 209 cm in height and 142 cm in width. As a Baroque-era piece, the medium allows for the fluid modeling of figures typical of Ricci's style, though specific details regarding surface condition, handling history, or distinct stylistic maneuvers beyond the general classification are not explicitly detailed in the available records. The physical dimensions and material composition remain the primary documented formal qualities of the artwork.

History & Provenance

Sebastiano Ricci painted The Last Communion of Saint Mary of Egypt in 1695, an oil on canvas work measuring 209 by 142 centimeters, created as a religious painting for private devotion. Its early history traces to Marchese Giorgio Clerici of Milan, who died in 1736; an inventory drawn up in 1738 following his death describes the work as an original by Ricci, valued at breadth 4 and height 2½ bracci, with an ornate frame. The painting remained in the Clerici family until at least 1770, after which it passed to Josef Cremer of Dortmund by 1914, who included it in his collection catalogued that year as _Kommunion der hl.

Maria von Egypten_. The work later entered the market through several sales in London, including Sotheby’s in 1988 and Christie’s in 1991 and 1993, before being acquired by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in June 2003 via Hall & Knight Ltd.

The work is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., with accession number 2003.11.1.

Its exhibition history includes display at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 2003 following its acquisition (Hall & Knight Ltd., New York and London) on 6 June 2003.

Overview

Sebastiano Ricci’s oil on canvas, dated around 1695, portrays the final communion of a holy woman, traditionally identified as Saint Mary of Egypt. The composition centers on a solemn ritual in which the saint receives the Eucharist from a kneeling priest, set against a celestial backdrop populated by angels and a distant figure of Christ.

Subject & Meaning

The work illustrates the moment of Saint Mary of Egypt’s last sacrament, emphasizing themes of repentance and redemption. Her blue robe and the white cloth over her arm convey purity, while the priest’s humble posture underscores the reverence of the rite. The surrounding angels and Christ in the clouds suggest divine approval of her penitent life.

Context

The subject aligns with the Counter‑Reformation emphasis on saints as exemplars of piety and conversion. Saint Mary of Egypt, a desert hermit celebrated for her extreme asceticism, was a popular figure in 17th‑century devotional art, serving as a moral exemplar for viewers.