St Francis of Assisi
| Author: |
Unknown artist |
| Created: | late 19th–early 20th century |
| Material: | wood |
| Technique: | carving, colour paint |
| Dimensions: | 32.50 cm |
The sculpture portrays St Francis of Assisi (1182–1226), the founder of the Franciscan Order, one of the best-known saints, who was famous for his austerity, poverty and charity, and for his love of nature.
The scene ‘Stigmata of St Francis’, which was common in Renaissance and Baroque art, was also popular in Lithuanian folk sculpture. The story goes that Francis prayed that he could feel Christ’s Passion and death, and then received the stigmata, the wounds of the Crucified Christ. He is usually represented kneeling before a Crucifix, with his hands reaching towards Christ, from whose wounds thin pieces of wire stretch to his hands, feet and side. The composition presented here is a rarer version, in which the saint is kneeling with his hands folded in prayer, and with the red traces of stigmata on his palms. The complete composition would have presented St Francis praying before a Crucifix, but the Crucifix is missing in this group.
St Francis is the patron saint of animals and birds. In some parts of Lithuania he was believed to save rye from hail, and to protect people from thunderstorms.
Text author Skaidrė Urbonienė
Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė UrbonienėExpositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)
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