Saint Vito the martyr

San Vito is depicted beardless in the usual iconography of the Roman soldier, with the palm and the cross, symbols of martyrdom, and holds two dogs on a leash. The cult of the Saint has been attested since the fifth century, although we have few certain news. The most authoritative hagiographic source is the Geronimo’s Martirologio, which reports the news of the death occurred in Lucania - and this could explain its diffusion also in nearby Altamura - while it is known throughout Europe since in the Middle Ages San Vito was counted among the fourteen auxiliary saints, the whose intercession was considered particularly important for healing certain diseases. The rich and lively drapery, the fringes of the armour and the decoration of the skirt below manifest the hand of an original artist who has been able to revive the lingering compositional schemes of Neapolitan style that are very widespread in Puglia. The vestment worn by the saint shows a wise predominance of decorative elements in the calligraphic characterization of the drawing; the carving of the overlaid armour is refined and elegant. The cloak, which falls thickly and with large folds on the left forearm, helps to break the effect of climax in the setting of the figure and to give it dynamism. The statue rests on a hexagonal base of a later period. Successive additions are probably the metal crown and leash. The renewal of the compositional scheme of the figure's setting, the vivacity of drapery, the decorative elements of the vestment, the refined polychrome of the armour and the characterized expression of the face lead to attribute the statue of San Vito to the expert hand of Nicola Antonio Brudaglio. He worked in Puglia and Basilicata and numerous his works are still under study and research.