Panel

Taddeo di Bartolo (1362/3-1422)

Italy, Siena

Saint Anthony of Padua, an ardent follower of St. Francis, was known to have travelled extensively to spread the Word of God. Born in Portugal, he died in Padua, Italy in 1231, hence the qualification of Padua. On this panel, we can see Anthony being honoured by the spirit of St Francis (who died some years earlier), who appears before him while he - Anthony- is preaching in Arles, France, during one of his journeys. Both saints have their holiness indicated by a golden halo. The Franciscan friars, or Minorites, can be recognized by their grey habits, the cord around the waist (cords, belts, bands etc. are worn all over the world by priests and shamans to indicate the mediating function between this world and the world of spirits. In Christianity, it indicates detachment from the world and dedication to Christ). They shave their hair in a distinctive fashion too, in a shape called the tonsure (which means a shave). Francis can be identified by the stigmata on his hands (stigma: Greek sign or tattoo). These signs refer to the wounds of the crucified Jesus, and can be found with several Christian saints. As a reward for their deep piety some saints received the signs from Christ Himself in a vision, as did Francis. The gesture made by the spirit of Francis is one of blessing. This gesture originated in Roman times, where it meant: to submit to the pagan gods, and was also a sign of piety. Early Christians prayed assuming a posture very similar to that of St. Francis on this panel. A person praying in this manner was referred to as an orante (orator - as prayers were said aloud). Behind the blessing hands is a golden background; the decaying surface clearly shows traces of red paint that served as an underlayer, before gold leaf was applied.