Saint Ursula among the Virgins

Udine in the early 1500s was Venetian territory, and in Venice a painter named Carpaccio had just finished a long cycle on the life of Saint Ursula, the princess of the legend who sailed with a company of virgins and was killed with them at Cologne. The brotherhood of Saint Ursula in Udine wanted an altar of their own for the church of San Pietro Martire, and what Giovanni Martini gave them looks at Venice throughout.

Along the bottom of the canvas runs a painted line in capitals recording that Antonio Manzignel was the brotherhood's camerario, its treasurer, when the work was done.

The altarpiece was taken apart, most likely in the 19th century. Its carved and gilded frame is gone. The lunette of Saint Dominic is in the civic museum in Udine, one predella panel is in a private collection in Rome, and the scene that showed the martyrdom itself has disappeared.