Collection: St. Bonaventure Receiving Habit from St. Francis

ARTIST: Museum Religious Art Classics

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

Artist: Francisco de Herrera The Elder – c. 1628

This is one of a series of eight works painted by Herrera and Zurbarán for the church of the Colegio de San Buenaventura in Seville on the subject of the life of that saint (1221-1274). The present canvas depicts the moment when the young Bonaventure kneels before Saint Francis to receive the habit. The palette of earth tones and lively brushstrokes are characteristic of the artist`s style.

St. Bonaventure, OFM, born Giovanni di Fidanza, was an Italian medieval Franciscan, scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, he was also Cardinal Bishop of Albano.

His feast day is July 15.