The Martyrdom of Saints James the Less and Saint Philip
The version painted by Procaccini shows both the martyrdom of St James the Less as recounted by Clement of Alexandria, according to which the saint was beaten to death, and the version told by Hegesippus, in which the saint was stoned to death (as depicted by Scarsellino in the altarpiece still housed in the Santa Maria in Porto basilica in Ravenna).
A preparatory drawing by Procaccini depicting the executioner hurling the stone is kept at the Ambrosiana art gallery in Milan (Viroli, 1991).
The painting probably dates back to the end of the 16th century, when Procaccini was engaged in a number of commissions for Benedictine orders across the region. Viroli suggested that Procaccini produced the original painting after his journey to Rome (Viroli, 1994).
The picture in Cervia is thought to be a copy, probably dating from the 18th century, of Procaccini’s original which was located “in the choir of San Vitale basilica” in Ravenna (Gori, 2001). The energetic and intricate composition, the vibrant colours and the strong foreshortening effect clearly point to a more mature mannerist approach.”
