St Ursula was a Christian princess, who lived in the third or fourth century AD. She agreed to marry a pagan prince on the condition that he first accompanied her and 11,000 virgins on a pilgrimage across Europe to Rome. At Rome, Pope Cyriacus joined Ursula's pilgrimage. On her return home, she had a vision of an angel who foretold her martyrdom.
The prophecy was realised when Ursula and her attendants reached Cologne. Here the Huns, who had invaded from Asia and eastern Europe, attacked and murdered Ursula and all her attendants.
Ruskin on the St Ursula CycleRuskin first took note of the St Ursula paintings because he admired Carpaccio's work, in particular his use of colour and attention to detail. Although Carpaccio painted historical scenes, the figures, architecture, and backgrounds, were Venetian. The artist painted what he could see rather than what he imagined.
Ruskin saw St Ursula as a symbol of female purity and beauty. In his later years, especially in times of mental illnesses, Ruskin came to link the paintings and the life of St Ursula with Rose La Touche, the young woman for whom he nurtured an obsessive love.
Rose died young, possibly of an anorexic condition, on 25 May 1875. Ruskin found both comfort and grief in the images of Ursula and looked to them for spiritual messages from Rose.