Saint Charles Borromeo Handing out Alms to the People

The reorganization of the San Carlos Academy in the mid-XIXth century encouraged both students and teachers to include personages representative of the said institute in their works. Such is the case with this piece by José Salomé Pina, which was executed expressly for hanging in the Academy's meeting room. Saint Charles Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan and later a cardinal during the XVI th century, was born into a rich family in northern Italy. According to Christian tradition, on hearing the call of God, the future priest renounced his riches and adopted humility as his guiding tenet, living the rest of his life close to the poor and protecting the disadvantaged. The Academy adopted him as its patron when it was officially set up by decree of King Charles III in 1783.This painting by Pina depicts the institution's patron saint in a vestibule wearing a cardinal's robes and giving away pieces of cloth to the poor who are huddled in front of him. On his right, other priests are holding his crosier and a basket of bread which they are about to hand out to the crowd. The Gothicstyle church in the background is reminiscent of the Cathedral of Milan, the city where the scene takes place.This work sets out to underline the association between Saint Charles and the institution bearing his name, alluding to the protection and support that the latter afforded its students and teachers. The piece was exhibited at the VI th Annual Exhibition the same year it was painted, and earned the painter a scholarship to study in Rome. It has hung in the MUNAL since 1982.