St Elizabeth by Marianne Stokes 1895

 

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St. Elizabeth spinning wool for the poor by Marianne Stokes (1895)

Marianne Stokes’s St. Elizabeth Spinning Wool for the Poor (1895) presents a quiet yet profound vision of charity, devotion, and feminine virtue, themes deeply rooted in late 19th-century religious art. Painted in the refined Art Nouveau style that characterized much of Stokes’s work, the scene portrays Saint Elizabeth of Hungary seated at her spinning wheel, absorbed in the humble labor of creating garments for the poor. 

She wears a full red apron that protects an olive-green dress adorned with delicate gold floral motifs—an ensemble that subtly suggests both her noble status and her willingness to engage in the simplest acts of service. Around her feet lie two large rolls of dark wool, an empty spool, a piece of pale fabric, and a pair of scissors, objects that emphasize the practicality and sincerity of her work. The saint’s golden halo forms a luminous contrast against her fair skin and the rich olive banner that drapes the wall behind her, visually linking her sanctity with the warmth and harmony of the carefully composed interior.

On the wall beside her hangs a tempera image of the face of Christ—its solemn features reminiscent of the Holy Face associated with the Shroud of Turin—further underscoring the spiritual significance of Elizabeth’s task. Stokes’s meticulous attention to color, light, and pattern elevates this domestic moment into a sacred act of compassion, harmonizing Art Nouveau elegance with the realism that made her one of the most celebrated female painters of Victorian England. 

Through the serenity of Elizabeth’s posture, the concentrated delicacy of her hands at the wheel, and the quiet symbolism that surrounds her, the painting becomes a meditation on service performed not through grand gestures, but through steady, loving labor offered for the sake of others.

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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.