Saint Francis Xavier

The Jesuit missionary, Saint Francis Xavier, was canonized in 1622. He was the second most depicted member of the Jesuit Order in Counterreformation art, after Saint Ignatius himself. In accordance with tradition, he is shown wearing a black habit, holding a scallop shell in his right hand and, in his left hand, a metal-spiked pilgrims staff. He is standing on a pedestal-like cloud and, at his feet, on the far left, two angels holding a baptismal font prostrate themselves, symbolizing his evangelical mission in the Orient, where he strove to gain converts to the Christian faith. On Saint Francis' right, leaning against him, is a kneeling supplicant whose head is hidden in his gown. This is one more of a long list of works on Jesuit topics produced by Cabrera and, undoubtedly, given its dimensions and compositional layout, it formed a pair with the painter's other portrait of Saint Ignatius Loyola. This work entered the MUNAL in the year 2000.