Nincheri, a knowledgeable artist as well as a perfectionist, attached great importance to the accuracy of his religious depictions. However, the task had proved more challenging for Saint Amélie. The fact is there are several saints called Amélie. Two of them were more widely known, but also often confused. In religious texts, they are generally referred to as Amalberga. One was born in the town of Temse, Belgium, and the other, in Maubeuge, France. The stories surrounding these two saints get muddled and even the most learned theologians have difficulty distinguishing between the two.

To represent the three scenes dedicated to Saint Amélie, Nincheri therefore had to use his imagination. Look at the arch rising above the entrance to the chancel, on the right: it shows the body of Saint Amélie on display in the gardens of a convent. We know that this scene is associated with Saint Amalberga of Temse, and shows that she was the one Nincheri chose to represent.

Nothing else in this scene, however, is reminiscent of Belgium in the Middle Ages. Nincheri took some creative liberties here, in particular in the changes made to the clothing worn by the faithful and the architecture, which better suited his Italian style. 

The Latin inscription underneath the weeping nuns, Corpus Tuum diu incorruptum mansit, means “Your body remained incorrupt for a long time.” This phrase highlights the belief that the body of Saint Amélie had been preserved from decomposition for an extended period of time after her death, a sign of holiness in Christian tradition.

An angel offering Communion and apotheosis are regularly recurring scenes in the life of many saints. Nincheri therefore didn’t take too much of a risk when he chose them to depict the life of Saint Amélie. Interestingly, Saint Amélie has been given the features of Baie-Comeau resident Liette Boisseau-Allard, who sat for the artist when he painted these frescoes.

Despite taking a number of liberties, the frescoes portraying Saint Amélie are nonetheless remarkable works which showcase the artist’s habitual mastery of colour and the lively appearance of the figures depicted in his paintings.