"Cordis Amores, St Philip Neri, Colossians 3:14”

I strove to create a deeply reverent portrayal of St. Philip Neri, the "Apostle of Rome" with an intense, penetrating gaze that reflects his spiritual depth and characteristic cheerfulness. Set upon a dramatic, dark background, the viewer's eye is drawn to the figure and the symbolic luminous sphere of light resting on his chest, which represents the miraculous enlargement of his heart by divine love during prayer. The stark contrast between the earthly sobriety of his dark clerical attire and the radiant, internal fire highlights the central paradox of his life: a man of profound humility yet possessing an overwhelming, almost palpable love for God that transcended the physical. My aim was to convey not just his physical appearance, but the inner sanctity and joyous fervor that made him one of the most beloved saints of the Counter-Reformation.