Collection: St. Gertrude

ARTIST: Museum Religious Art Classics

ARTWORK NARRATIVE:

Artist: Miguel Cabrera – c. 1763

Saint Gertrude the Great (1256–1301 or 1302) was a German Benedictine nun from the monastery at Helfta, near Saxony. A prolific mystic writer, she is particularly known for her Spiritual Exercises, which interpret the Seven Sacraments.

Miguel Cabrera depicts the saint in reflection, with her writing tools to her right and a devotional book—possibly her own work—in front of her. He emphasizes the loveliness of the saint’s face, indicating the influence of the Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, who was acclaimed for the sweetness of his portrayals of the virgin and saints. Of particular importance in the composition is the image of the Sacred Heart, the symbol of Christ’s love for humanity that prompted sacrifice, redemption of sin, and mercy to sinners.

Her feast day is November 16.