Saint Helen Testing the True Cross

Museum record 10509: Saint Helen Testing the True Cross by Tintoretto. A verified entry point for discovery.

What to notice

For Saint Helen Testing the True Cross (record 10509), start with modern, expressive, atmospheric. Compare the focal subject, edge treatment, and atmosphere before moving on.

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This painting may belong to an extensive series of small scenes illustrating the story of Saint Helen, mother of Constantine, the Roman emperor who made Christianity the official religion of his empire. According to legend, Helen traveled to Jerusalem in search of the cross on which Jesus was crucified, known as the True Cross. Guided to the spot of the crucifixion, she identified the True Cross by testing its power to revive the dead. In this small painting, Tintoretto set down the figures with bold, su…