Blessed Virgin Saints Francis and Clare
This vintage-style religious illustration presents a sacred and intimate portrayal of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Holy Child Jesus, flanked by two of the most beloved saints of the Franciscan tradition: St. Clare of Assisi and St. Francis of Assisi.
Center: The Virgin Mary with Christ Child
Mary, enthroned in the center, is robed in deep red and gold, symbolizing love, sacrifice, and divine royalty.
Her posture is slightly tilted, with a serene expression that conveys both maternal tenderness and spiritual authority.
Seated on her lap is the Child Jesus, who holds a scroll and offers a gesture of blessing. His stylized, almost miniature form is characteristic of traditional iconography, where the child is portrayed as divine wisdom incarnate, not merely an infant.
Left: St. Clare of Assisi
On Mary's right (viewer’s left) stands St. Clare, the foundress of the Poor Clares, a contemplative Franciscan order.
She is shown with a humble, graceful posture, slightly bowed in veneration, her hand extended toward Mary and Jesus.
Her long robe and veil emphasize modesty, and her halo signifies sanctity.
Right: St. Francis of Assisi
On Mary's left (viewer’s right) stands St. Francis, clad in his iconic brown habit, complete with the cincture of three knots symbolizing poverty, chastity, and obedience.
He displays the stigmata — the wounds of Christ — on his hand, a mark of his mystical union with Jesus.
Francis gestures reverently toward Mary and Jesus, anchoring the painting in the Franciscan spirituality of devotion to Christ through Mary.
Iconographic Influence: The stylization, golden hues, and simplified forms evoke the Byzantine and early Christian icon traditions, where sacred figures are depicted more for their theological symbolism than for naturalism.
Vintage Texture: The painting’s aged, sepia-toned background gives it a timeless, antique quality, enhancing its spiritual aura and evoking the feeling of a treasured religious artifact.
Haloes and Light: Each figure is adorned with a luminous halo, signifying their holiness and divine connection. The soft glow reinforces the sacred, contemplative mood.
This image beautifully encapsulates Franciscan Marian devotion, emphasizing:
Mary's role as Theotokos (God-bearer),
Jesus as Divine Wisdom and Redeemer,
Francis and Clare as models of radical discipleship, humility, and love for Christ.
Together, they form a trinitarian spiritual family of sorts — representing prayer, sacrifice, and maternal intercession.
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.
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