Saint Apollonia 330 by Andy Warhol is one of four screenprints from his Saint Apollonia portfolio. The portrait presents the saint frontally against a vivid vermilion-red background. It is one of the boldest colorways in the series. Warhol preserves the delicate folds of her pale blue dress and muted rose cloak. He also leaves the aged craquelure of the original Renaissance panel clearly visible. Saint Apollonia calmly holds a pair of pliers gripping a tooth, her serene expression contrasting with the violent symbolism of her martyrdom. The restrained palette and minimal cropping retain much of the original composition while subtly transforming it through Warhol’s unmistakable Pop sensibility.
The Story Behind the Saint
Saint Apollonia 330 draws upon a fifteenth-century portrait attributed to Piero della Francesca, painted around 1455–1460. Warhol selected the image as part of his late-career exploration of Renaissance art. He placed the Christian martyr alongside other historical subjects he revisited during the 1980s. Warhol approached Saint Apollonia with the same care he devoted to celebrities and cultural icons. In doing so, he elevated her image for a contemporary audience while preserving her quiet dignity.
According to Christian tradition, Apollonia suffered persecution during anti-Christian riots in Alexandria, Egypt, in the third century. Her attackers broke and removed all of her teeth before threatening to burn her alive unless she renounced her faith. Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, recorded the event in a letter to Fabius, Bishop of Antioch: “These men seized her also and by repeated blows broke all her teeth. They then erected outside the city gates a pile of wood and threatened to burn her alive if she refused to repeat after them impious words… Given, at her own request, a little freedom, she sprang quickly into the fire and was burned to death.” Her story remained widely known throughout the Christian world. As a result, Saint Apollonia became the patron saint of dentists and those suffering from toothaches, traditionally identified by the tooth and pliers she carries.
Saint Apollonia 330 in Andy Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Among the four prints, Saint Apollonia 330 stands out for its striking red ground and comparatively faithful treatment of the Renaissance original. Unlike works from Warhol’s Birth of Venus, St. George and the Dragon, or The Annunciation, Warhol leaves the composition largely intact. He even preserves the visible cracks of the original panel. Their presence becomes part of the finished image. Moreover, the restrained use of color gives the work an unusual sense of reverence within Warhol’s Renaissance-inspired prints.
Warhol’s lifelong Catholic faith also gives the series added resonance. Although he rarely discussed his religious beliefs publicly, sacred imagery appeared repeatedly throughout his career. It culminated in late works such as The Last Supper. As someone who endured recurring health problems throughout his life, Warhol may have found particular significance in Saint Apollonia’s association with suffering, endurance, and healing. Today, the original painting hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Revolver Gallery is proud to offer all four prints from Warhol’s series, including Saint Apollonia 331, 332, and 333.
Image Credit: Saint Apollonia, attributed to Piero della Francesca, c. 1455–1460.
