The Burial of Saint Lucy

Caravaggio depicts the burial of Saint Lucy immediately after her martyrdom. Two monumental gravediggers dominate the foreground as they excavate the grave intended to receive the saint's body, which lies upon the ground. Behind them stands a compact group of witnesses, including the prominent figure of a bishop. The action occupies only the lower part of the enormous canvas, while a vast, bare and dark surface extends above the figures, making the protagonists appear small and vulnerable within the surrounding space.

This radical use of emptiness is one of the defining characteristics of Caravaggio's late work. Lucy's death is not presented as a heroic martyrdom but through its immediate physical consequences. The monumental bodies of the gravediggers contrast with the fragility of the saint and the silent group behind her.