St Francois donne le voile a ste claire

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"St Francois D Assise done la voile a Ste Claire"

This French holy card depicts the foundational moment in which Saint Clare of Assisi dedicates her life to God under the guidance of Saint Francis. Clare is shown kneeling, her posture humble yet resolute, while Francis gently places the veil of consecration upon her head. This gesture marks the birth of the female branch of the Franciscan family: the Poor Clares. The scene reflects the night of Palm Sunday in 1212, when Clare, moved by Francis’ preaching, secretly left her family home to embrace a life of poverty, fraternity, and contemplative devotion.

The composition is set against a dark night sky illuminated with delicate golden stars, lending the moment a sense of quiet wonder and divine protection. The intimacy between the two saints is emphasized by the soft interaction of their gestures, suggesting not only religious ceremony, but profound mutual trust and spiritual kinship. Their clothing is rendered simply, underscoring the Franciscan ideals of humility and poverty.

In the background, on the left, the viewer can glimpse the small hermitage of San Damiano, the beloved sanctuary where Clare and her sisters would eventually establish their first community. At the bottom of the card, a caption in French identifies the scene: “St François d’Assise donne la voile à Ste Claire” (Saint Francis of Assisi gives the veil to Saint Clare). The image serves both as a devotional remembrance of Franciscan origins and as a gentle celebration of the courage, fidelity, and shared holiness of these two foundational saints.

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This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.