Behind the altar, there is an oil painting by the Monreale painter Antonio Novelli. Antonio was a refined artist and man of culture, in contact with Flemish painters and appointed, in 1595, “head master of the Cathedral” of Monreale. He was the father of the famous Pietro Novelli, one of the most renowned painters of his time, so much so that in 1636 he was appointed engineer and architect of the Senate of Palermo and in 1643 he was appointed engineer of the Kingdom. The painting depicts Saint Castrense standing in pontifical robes, blessing, with Ludovico II de Torres kneeling at his feet.
