St. Francis in the Desert
Artist: Giovanni Bellini
1475 - - 80
Painting
St. Francis in the Desert (or St. Francis in Ecstasy) is a painting by Italian Renaissance master Giovanni Bellini. The painting portrays Francis of Assisi, the Italian saint of the early 13th century, in an Italian landscape, stepping out in the sun from his cave, his figure anchoring the creamy celadon and golden-green landscape. The oil painting by Bellini has a length of approximately four feet with a width of around four and a half feet, depicting a natural, but dramatic scene. This painting includes one of the largest and most extensive Renaissance landscapes.
The painting is oil on panel, measure 120 x 137 cm and is housed in the Frick Collection in New York City.
This work is linked to New Testament Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
St. George
Artist: Donatello
1413
Sculpture
Donatello was commissioned to create a statue of St. George around 1413 for the guild of Florentine armorers and sword-makers. It was carved from marble and placed near his statue of St. Mark on a niche of the church in Orsanmichele.
The saint's history was well-known. St. George was a military hero who had fought to defend the Holy Land. Tales dating back to the Crusades, including those illustrating his defeat of a dragon, were collected in the "Legenda Aurea" in the thirteenth century. Donatello took these tales into account and created a likeness of St. George that personified him as confident and capable.
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