The statue of Sant’Eufemia in the church of Irsina

In the cathedral church of Irsina, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, there is an absolute masterpiece of the 15th century: a splendid stone statue of St. Euphemia, the patron saint of the village. Observing the statue, its details amaze, such as the thick curls of the Holy Martyr that match those of the lion’s mane. The charm of the work, wonderfully crafted, also lies in the controversial identification of its author, today mainly attributable to Pietro Lombardo, although some say that the statue is the only sculpture of Andrea Mantegna, brought to the village together with the autograph painting that portrays the same Saint, now preserved in the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.