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Virgin conversing with Saints
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Another form of the Sacred Conversation theme. Here the Blessed Mother reads a book to her Son, surrounded by Saints who can be identified from their "attributes" or symbols. To the left stands St. John the Evangelist holding a writing desk (he too wrote a gospel). His particular attribute is the chalice with a tiny snake coming out of it, a reference to one of the miracles recorded in his life. Enemies attempted to poison him but when he made the sign of the cross over the chalice, a snake appeared. To his right stands a friar in brown, kissing the feet of the Christ Child. The marks on his hands are the stigmata, wounds similar to those born by Jesus himself. Thus, this person is St. Francis of Assisi. Finally, on the far right, another St. John, this time St. John the Baptist, with his finger pointing to the savior. |
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