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拍品专文
One of the most revered saints of the Catholic Church, Anthony of Padua is known as the patron saint of the poor, of travelers and seafarers, and protector of lost things. Christened Ferdinand at birth, Saint Anthony was born in Lisbon in 1195 to a noble family, with some accounts connecting his lineage to Godfrey de Bouillon, commander of the First Crusade. From an early age, the young man demonstrated a clear calling to the faith, and in 1210 at the age of fifteen, he joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine where he eagerly devoted himself to theological studies and Scripture. Several years into his studies, he relocated to the Convent of Santa Croce in Coimbra to further devote himself to his calling. It was during this time that news arrived of a group of Franciscan martyrs that had been killed for preaching Christianity in Al-Andaluz (modern-day Andalucía), the last waning Muslim stronghold of the Iberian Peninsula. Ferdinand found tremendous inspiration in their story, and in 1220, he petitioned to join the Franciscan Order, taking the name of Anthony, after Anthony the Abbot, founder of monasticism. The young saint’s knowledge of scripture was quickly recognized by the founder of the Order, Saint Francis of Assisi, who later appointed him first lector of the Franciscans.
Saint Anthony was best known for his gift of public speaking, and his ability to deliver moving sermons which drew tremendous crowds. Dubbed the “hammer of the heretics” Anthony travelled tirelessly throughout northern Italy and southern France, evangelizing local populations and speaking out against heresy, at times to crowds that numbered in the thousands. It wasn’t long before stories and miracles associated with Anthony began to circulate in the region. By age of 36, perhaps sensing that his end was near, Anthony had given up much of his public duties, retiring to a convent in Padua that he had founded, where he dedicated himself to quiet prayer, and preaching to the local community. His last major sermon was during Lent; shortly after he became ill and passed away. A year later, in 1232, Saint Anthony was canonized and in 1946, he was given the title Doctor Evangelicus by Pope Pius XII for his eloquent sermons which continue to inspire to this day.
Most beloved throughout the Christian world, Anthony of Padua became a powerful symbol during the Counter-Reformation. Images of the saint by baroque masters such as El Greco, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo celebrate his legacy, and prints and paintings of Saint Anthony circulated widely throughout the Spanish empire in Europe and into the Americas, where the Franciscans were instrumental in carrying out Spain’s evangelical mission to colonize the new world.
The present work portrays the devoted saint in a miraculous moment of Christ’s apparition. Probably based on work by Cornelis Galle I (1576-1650) or II (1615-1678), compositionally the painting adheres closely to the Flemish engraving, though here, the artist took some liberty in adding stylistic flourishes, namely in the delicate detailing on the saint’s robes and the sash that adorns the infant Christ. Holding white lilies, a symbol of his purity, Anthony kneels, gazing up at Christ, who in turn blesses the pious saint. Depicting a moment of personal spiritual enlightenment, this particular work probably adorned a private home where it would have been admired in moments of quiet prayer and contemplation, providing a reminder of the bounty that awaits those who are steadfast in their devotion to the Lord.
Saint Anthony was best known for his gift of public speaking, and his ability to deliver moving sermons which drew tremendous crowds. Dubbed the “hammer of the heretics” Anthony travelled tirelessly throughout northern Italy and southern France, evangelizing local populations and speaking out against heresy, at times to crowds that numbered in the thousands. It wasn’t long before stories and miracles associated with Anthony began to circulate in the region. By age of 36, perhaps sensing that his end was near, Anthony had given up much of his public duties, retiring to a convent in Padua that he had founded, where he dedicated himself to quiet prayer, and preaching to the local community. His last major sermon was during Lent; shortly after he became ill and passed away. A year later, in 1232, Saint Anthony was canonized and in 1946, he was given the title Doctor Evangelicus by Pope Pius XII for his eloquent sermons which continue to inspire to this day.
Most beloved throughout the Christian world, Anthony of Padua became a powerful symbol during the Counter-Reformation. Images of the saint by baroque masters such as El Greco, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo celebrate his legacy, and prints and paintings of Saint Anthony circulated widely throughout the Spanish empire in Europe and into the Americas, where the Franciscans were instrumental in carrying out Spain’s evangelical mission to colonize the new world.
The present work portrays the devoted saint in a miraculous moment of Christ’s apparition. Probably based on work by Cornelis Galle I (1576-1650) or II (1615-1678), compositionally the painting adheres closely to the Flemish engraving, though here, the artist took some liberty in adding stylistic flourishes, namely in the delicate detailing on the saint’s robes and the sash that adorns the infant Christ. Holding white lilies, a symbol of his purity, Anthony kneels, gazing up at Christ, who in turn blesses the pious saint. Depicting a moment of personal spiritual enlightenment, this particular work probably adorned a private home where it would have been admired in moments of quiet prayer and contemplation, providing a reminder of the bounty that awaits those who are steadfast in their devotion to the Lord.