St. Ambrose was Bishop of Milan in a period of great turbulence just before the end of the Roman Empire in the West, when Christianity was in the ascendance over paganism. He was influential on two successive Roman Emperors, Gratian and Maximus.  Ambrose also reproved the Emperor Theodosius the Great (reigned 379 - 395) for instigating a blood-thirsty massacre at Thessalonica.  The resultant public penance of the Emperor was a real indication of Ambrose’s power as a Bishop.  He was buried in the Basilica since called S. Ambrogio in Milan.  The Saint is depicted here in his Bishop’s robes but the artist has not made it clear whether this Bishop is St. Ambrose or St. Augustine of Hippo.

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