This mid-18th-century Italian oil painting depicts Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Bishop of Geneva, in prayer. It was previously owned by Prior Ottmar Zwiebelhofer of the Benedictine Abbey in Ettenheimmünster, Germany and thence by descent through his family. Saint Francis de Sales is the patron of writers, journalists and teachers.
Born at Sales Castle in Savoy, France, as Francis Bonaventure, De Sales defended the Catholic doctrine amid a time of revolt and Reformation. As such, he’s considered one of the foremost figures of Christian theology. His father was of noble descent and expected him to take a bride and pursue a career as a magistrate. However, this sensitive, benevolent, intellectual, instead turned to God.
His writings included ‘Introduction to the Devout Life (1608)’ and ‘On Love of God’, which were designed to educate the aristocracy on how to exercise their faith by fulfilling their societal, and moral, obligations. He was a student of the Jesuits.
Regardless of your stance on religion, many of his quotes still resonate.
“Have no care for tomorrow. Think only of doing well today. And when tomorrow shall have become today, then we shall think about it.”
“For myself, I cannot approve the methods of those who try to reform a person by beginning with external things, such as bearings, dress or hair. On the contrary, it seems to me that we should begin inside.”
Held within a later frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 28½” x 32½” / 72cm x 83cm
Year of creation: 1740
Labels & Inscriptions: Note on the reverse relating to previous ownership.
Provenance: Prior Ottmar Zwiebelhofer of the Benedictine Abbey of Ettenheimmünster / His family by descent.
Condition: Cleaned. Canvas relined. Later stretcher. Overpaint following old restorations. Areas of discolouration. Faint stretcher marks. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame with various marks and showing its age.
Our reference: BRV1890
