“Batismo de Santo Hermenegildo”
Autor: Giovanni Guercino, atribuída a
Centro de Fabrico: Itália
Data: Século XVII
Material: Óleo sobre tela
Dimensões (cm): Alt. 260; larg. 198
Proprietário: Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga
N.º de Inventário: MNAA438
Hermenegild (564? – 585) was the son of Leovigild, a powerful Visigoth king in current Spain. His family was Arian, a doctrine considered heretical by the Catholic Church. When he was around 15 years old, Hermenegild was appointed prince of Seville to dominate the Catholics and to force them to convert to Arianism.
For political reasons, he married a French Catholic princess named Ingunda. Gradually, this marriage changed the life of Prince Hermenegild and lead him to forsake Arianism and to convert to Catholicism.
Upon learning of his son’s conversion, King Leovigild threatened to disinherit him. However, Hermenegild did not back down. So, his father imprisoned him and had him tortured, hoping that the suffering would make Hermenegild renounce Catholicism. As the punishment was in vain, Leovigild ordered him beheaded.
Shortly after, King Leovigild began to suffer great remorse for having killed his own son. He repented and converted, bringing the Catholic faith to his entire kingdom.
Saint Hermenegild was canonized in 1585 as a martyr of the Catholic Church, he is the patron saint of converts and is celebrated on the anniversary of his death.
