Treasures of the Church

Goretti Fine Art’s Treasures of the Church honors the legacy and witness of St. Lawrence of Rome, a third-century deacon martyred during the reign of Emperor Valerian.

According to an early story, at the outset of the persecution imperial officials desired to confiscate the assets of the Church. Lawrence, as the local ecclesiastical administrator, was summoned by the prefect and given three days to collect the Church’s riches for transmittal. Lawrence quickly gave away the fine objects in the Church’s possession to the poor. When the appointed time arrived, he presented to the prefect, as the true “treasures of the Church,” a multitude of the city’s sick, vulnerable, and marginalized. The authorities were so incensed by Lawrence’s effrontery that they sentenced him to death by grilling.

George and Polly’s monumental 44x66” oil painting depicts the moment when the Roman officials realize that they have been thwarted by Lawrence’s generosity. Cherubs bearing the palm frond of martyrdom and a gridiron foreshadow the fate that the saint will suffer on account of his actions in the scene.

The work was commissioned on behalf of a prominent archdiocesan non-profit, and each member of the assembled crowd represents one of the charitable ministries that make up the organization.