Saint Martina Refuses to Adore the Idols

This painting of Saint Martina refusing to worship the pagan idols, dated 1657 and held in the Princeton Art Museum, depicts the early Christian martyr who was especially significant to Cortona personally. While renovating the church of Santi Luca e Martina near the Roman Forum — the church of the artists' academy — Cortona discovered what were believed to be Saint Martina's relics in 1634. He subsequently rebuilt the entire church at his own expense, creating one of the finest Baroque churches in Rome. This painting reflects his lifelong devotion to the saint.

The composition dramatizes Martina's courageous refusal through bold gesture and dynamic figure arrangement, with the pagan idols crumbling before the power of her faith. Cortona's characteristic warm palette and energetic brushwork create theatrical intensity appropriate to the martyrdom narrative.