Date

Circa 1910

St Longinus is one of the four colossal marble statues of the saints associated with the relics Bernini assembled for display in the crossing; the head of the apostle Andrew; the lance of Longinus; Veronica's veil; and fragments of the True Cross brought to Rome by St Helena. As a group they relate to the baldacchino. St Veronica and St Helena seem to direct their attention to and move towards the papal altar at which Christ's Passion is re-enacted during Mass. St Andrew and St Longinus, with arms outspread in wonder, look upward towards the top of the baldacchino, where Bernini had envisaged a huge statue of the Risen Christ.