St Ursula was a legendary early Christian princess from Britain, betrothed to a pagan prince. Before the wedding she and ten virgin companions, each with a thousand maidservants, made a pilgrimage to Rome. On their return journey they were slaughtered by the Huns for their faith. Ludovico Carracci painted the Martyrdom of St Ursula three times: this is a study for the last version, executed for Sant’Orsola, Mantua, and now lost.