Saint Anthony of Padua

Saint Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), a Portuguese Franciscan of the 12th century, has abundant representations in colonial art of New Granade. So, for example, in the old Church of Santa Clara, there are six artworks dedicated to representing him.

The saint joined the Franciscan order shortly after its foundation, in 1209. Throughout his life he toured various countries of Europe spreading his faith in Christ, and wrote and preached a large number of sermons and treatises on mysticism and asceticism.

His most common representation, present in this image, is the one that alludes to the appearance of the Child Jesus before him. It is said that a friend who hosted him looked through his keyhole and witnessed how the Child appeared to the Franciscan saint.

Anthony of Padua appears kneeling. By attire he wears a simple gray habit with a cord tied to the waist from which three knots run, clothing typical of the Franciscan order, to which he belonged.

In his right hand he carries a bouquet of lilies, one of the attributes with which he is traditionally represented. These flowers relate to the purity and humility that the saint demonstrated throughout his life.

At the foot of Saint Anthony is represented an open book. This probably alludes to his numerous theological writings, which earned him in 1946 the nomination of Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII.

In front of the saint, there is a cartouche showing a fragment of the rhymed liturgical office, written in 1233 by Fray Julian of Speyer (?-1250). In this text, the Franciscan honors St. Anthony and recalls some of the most famous miracles attributed to him.

Jesus Child holds the cartouche. The little one remains standing. A red crosswise mantle, a color that alludes to the episodes of the Passion that he will live towards the end of his life, partially covers his body

The iconography of the Portuguese saint was the most widespread in Colonial America, after his images arrived in New Granada by the hand of the Franciscan evangelizers. His devotion was strongly established within the filigrees in the public and private spheres.

Over the centuries, Saint Anthony of Padua also acquired a reputation as a miracle worker. That is, it is considered that his image can perform miracles, including that of helping women with love difficulties. Today, various "popular" practices maintain devotion to the saint.