Saint Philip Benizi – Galleria Nazionale di Arte Antica – Rome
Saint Philip Benizi, the most important among the seven founders of the Order of the Servites is portrayed by Perugino holding a lily, symbol of purity, and his iconographic attribute, the open book bearing the words «Servus tuus / sum ego / et filius / ancille tue».
The work was part of the polyptych destined for the altar of the church of Santissima Annunziata in Florence, executed by order of Fra Zaccaria di Lorenzo around 1500.
Originally, the saint had to appear full-length and was scaled down only later. The other parts of the composition that constituted the Pala dell’Annunziata were entrusted respectively to Baccio d’Agnolo, initially, and then to Filippo Lippi, but he died in 1504; the friars then signed a new contract with Perugino, to have the work finally completed within 1507.
While the part with the Assumption of the Virgin is still on site and the Deposition also remained in Florence, preserved at the Accademia Gallery, other panels are scattered around the world, in private collections and museums, following the dispersion caused by the dismantling of the carpentry in 1654; also the San Philip had been part of the private collection of the princes Torlonia, before arriving at Palazzo Barberini where it is still preserved.
The work is located in Rome, at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica of Palazzo Barberini.
