Saint Anthony by Francesco de Mura
"Saint Anthony of Padua" by master Francesco de Mura, who was an Italian painter of the late Baroque period. De Mura was known for his refined style and use of delicate color palettes, and this work is an excellent example of his religious and devotional art.
Saint Anthony of Padua, a Franciscan friar and Doctor of the Church, in a moment of divine vision or spiritual ecstasy. The saint is traditionally depicted in his brown Franciscan habit, kneeling or reaching out in a gesture of devotion or awe. His expression is one of humility and wonder, common in depictions of saints receiving divine revelations.
A group of cherubs (putti) surrounds Saint Anthony, engaging with him, presenting lilies (symbol of purity), or interacting among themselves. The cherubs are painted with typical Baroque softness and a dynamic, flowing arrangement that draws the viewer’s eye.
The composition uses light to emphasize the divine nature of the encounter. A group of angelic heads in the upper part of the painting appears amidst glowing clouds, enhancing the sense of a heavenly apparition. One of this angelical figures hands a bundle of lilies to Saint Anthony, which often symbolize Saint Anthony’s purity and his association with miracles.
While not depicted in this panel, Saint Anthony is commonly portrayed with the infant Jesus, and the presence of cherubs suggests a divine connection, possibly hinting at that tradition.
The baroque influence is mostly shown through an emotional intensity, dramatic lighting, and a sense of movement. The usage of soft, luminous colors: A hallmark of De Mura's late-Baroque Neapolitan style.
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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