Corner La Trin: The Legend of St. Ursula

The imposing building housing the Galleria Academia of Venice loomed in front of us. We bought our tickets and walked in to this mysterious building.

The first of the twenty eight rooms in the Galleria was exquisite. The multi domed roof was painted blue and, where the domes joined, had points coming out of it. In the midst of the points were faces, sculpted and intricate. This room had a lot of carvings gilded with gold. The paintings were mainly of Christian scenes, such as Virgin and Child, the saints or Jesus himself. It was extremely striking.

We went into room after room of brilliant works of art. My favourite painting was the story of Saint Ursula. It was actually a series of nine paintings. Each painting also consisted of a number of scenes. The first depicted Ursula, a princess, being proposed to by an English prince. She is telling her father of the two conditions on which she will marry the prince. Firstly, that he must be baptized, and, secondly, that they go on a pilgrimage to Rome to meet the Pope. It is very good

The second painting depicts the ambassadors from England going back to tell the prince of Ursula's conditions. It is set in a large, airy room full of tapestries and grand, bright gold. Pretty...

The third of the nine paintings depicts the ambassadors returning to Brittany, Ursula's home town, saying that the prince has agreed to her conditions. It is set in an open pavilion that has an imaginary city in the background. I loved it.

Fourth came the meeting of Ursula and the prince. It is set at the docks, where Ursula greets the prince. It is a bright and sunny morning, and there is a huge crowd. I wonder what it would've been like to be a princess............

Fifth was the painting that portrayed Ursula dreaming. She dreamt of being visited by a saint, carrying the news of Ursula's martyrdom. She is sleeping peacefully, a large contrast to her dream. I'd love my bedroom to be that big!

Sixth portrayed the first meeting of the spouses and the Pope. The 10000 virgins that were taken along form a line that stretch miles into the mountains. The Pope seems absolutely thrilled to see them there. It was heart warming.

Seventh was the painting depicting the arrival of the wedded couple and the Pope's floatilla of boats into Cologne, only to find that the city has been taken by Atilla the Hun. Confusion, shock and horror cross the Pope's face and Carpaccio, the artist who so amazingly completed this series, captures this perfectly. It is extremely nice.

The eighth painting reveals the moment before Ursula's death. She is kneeling before a Hun, who is pointing an arrow at her. She is not upset, but, peaceful, accepting her fate. It is an extremely surreal scene. On the right side of this painting is Ursula's funeral.

Finally, the ninth painting was painted as Ursula rising up to heaven. The Lord is reaching out to her. The 10000 virgins surround her. A happy, peaceful scene.

I loved all the paintings in the Galleria. But the legend of St Ursula was by far my favourite!

Marriage proposal by the English prince