Saint Praxedis

Johannes Vermeer painted this early work in 1655 showing Saint Praxedis collecting the blood of Christian martyrs with a sponge, a devotional act honoring those who died for their faith. The young woman kneels beside a decapitated body, wringing blood into an elegant vessel while gazing heavenward in prayer. A crucifix and shadowy landscape complete the somber religious scene.

This painting represents Vermeer's only known religious history work, created before he developed his signature domestic interiors with women in quiet contemplation. Based on a composition by Florentine artist Felice Ficherelli, it demonstrates the young Vermeer studying Italian models carefully. The painting's attribution was debated for years before scientific analysis confirmed his hand. It now hangs at the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, a rare early Vermeer.