St Anthony of Padua holding baby Jesus Zagreb cathedral

Saint Anthony of Padua Holding the Christ Child – Unknown Artist (19th century, ca. 1800–1900)

This devotional painting, housed in the Zagreb Cathedral in Croatia, depicts Saint Anthony of Padua in one of his most traditional and beloved iconographic forms: holding the Child Jesus. Although the artist remains unknown, the work reflects the 19th-century European devotional tradition, in which tender, intimate portrayals of saints encouraged personal contemplation and emotional closeness to the divine. The cathedral itself is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, situating this image within a wider context of Marian and Franciscan devotion.

The painting features a richly saturated blue background, an unusual and striking choice for a religious work of this era, which typically favored more muted or earthy tones. Kneeling on one knee, Saint Anthony cradles the Christ Child with gentle reverence, as though he has just received Him or risen from a moment of prayerful wonder. The Holy Child, with a soft and luminous presence, reaches out with His right hand to touch Saint Anthony near the neck, a gesture of affection and spiritual closeness. In the Child’s left hand rests a bundle of white lilies, a long-standing symbol of purity and sanctity closely associated with Saint Anthony.

Although the background and certain elements of the composition incorporate varying shades of blue, Saint Anthony’s Franciscan habit and the lilies possess subtle blue undertones rather than being brightly colored themselves. The artist contrasts these cool hues with warm, healthy skin tones in both figures, which brings life, presence, and humanity to the scene. The result is a work that emphasizes tenderness, spiritual intimacy, and the consoling closeness between the saint and the Divine Child.

Source here

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