SS. Justa and Rufina

Goya painted SS. Justa and Rufina in 1817 for the sacristy of Seville Cathedral, depicting the city's patron saints — two potters' daughters martyred in Roman-era Hispalis (Seville) for refusing to sell their wares for pagan worship. The commission required Goya to work within established Sevillian iconographic tradition while bringing his own vision to the subject. The saints hold their attributes — pottery and a model of the Giralda tower they miraculously preserved from an earthquake. Goya's naturalistic treatment of the figures, modeled from life rather than idealized, reportedly displeased some clerical critics. The painting remains in the cathedral and demonstrates Goya's ability to reinvigorate religious convention with human truth.

Goya renders the two virgin martyrs with warm, naturalistic flesh tones and monumental dignity, using the traditional Sevillian iconography while bringing his characteristic lifelike vitality to the sacred figures.