Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi

English

The group presents the two great Franciscan saints as wooden sculptures, each standing with a gentle yet firm presence. Saint Francis appears in the characteristic habit of his Order: a long, rough tunic, cinched at the waist with the cord of his vows. His contemplative face displays features softened by the wood grain, and his posture conveys open humility.

Saint Clare, standing beside him, reflects his same simplicity and devotion; she wears the modest monastic habit of the Poor Clares and holds a symbolic object—often a monstrance or the book of the Rule—while her expression radiates serenity, strength, and a profoundly spiritual fidelity. The warm tones of the wood reveal the hand of the carver: the folds of her garments are worked with sensitivity, and the surfaces exhibit a wear or patina that adds intimacy and depth.

Together, they form a balance between masculine and feminine, between brother and sister in the Franciscan tradition, suggesting not only individual holiness but also a shared spirituality. The craftsmanship evokes the tactile closeness of wood: the natural grain brings the fabric's texture to life, shadows settle in the folds, and the subtle twist of each figure invites the viewer into a shared story of poverty, mission, and contemplation.

Although the two figures stand side by side, they are not a symmetrical reflection: each retains its own distinct presence, yet together they form a silent dialogue of grace that embodies the Franciscan ideal of "brother and sister" in the simplicity of the Gospel.

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