Saint Ambrose appointed Governor of Liguria and Emilia

This 1673 work depicting Saint Ambrose appointed as Governor of Liguria and Emilia illustrates an episode from the life of the 4th-century bishop of Milan before his ecclesiastical career — he was a Roman imperial administrator before his unexpected election as bishop. Valdés Leal was commissioned for a series on Ambrose's life for a Sevillian church, and this narrative episode from the saint's civic career offered an unusual subject in comparison with the more common depictions of miracles and martyrdoms.

The scene shows Ambrose receiving his official appointment in a formal architectural setting with assembled figures. Valdés Leal's characteristic dramatic lighting and energetic figure handling give even this civic ceremony an intensity unusual for administrative subjects.