17th century Catalan school

Catalan school of the 17th century.
"The martyrdom of St. Agatha".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
With plaque on the bottom with inscription "Viladomat".
Presents restorations, Repainting and dirt.
XIX century frame with faults.
Measurements: 51 x 37 cm; 70 x 55 cm (frame).

This painting represents a young woman tied to a tree with her chest sectioned, so that it is the devotional representation of St. Agatha of Catania was a young Sicilian woman who lived during the third century. Quintilian, unable to persuade her to offer sacrifices to the gods, had her taken to a brothel run by the courtesan Aphrodisia, to be subjected to a ritual rape. But, like St. Agnes, she miraculously preserved her virginity. Later, in prison, the prefect threatened her with flogging, tied her upside down to a pillar and had her breasts torn off with pincers. She was cured by St. Peter, who appeared to her in the dungeon. The tyrant ordered her cell to be carpeted with pieces of glass and embers. At the time of her death, which would have occurred in 251, Etna erupted.