Spanish Colonial, Mexico, ca. 18th to 19th century. A large oil on canvas painting depicting San Francisco de Paula, the Italian saint who founded the Order of Minims or Hermits of Saint Francis in 1436 and preached sermons about charity and humility to his pious followers, kneeling upon a cloud in the celestial realm and pressing his hands together in prayer. San Francisco de Paul is surrounded by three angels; one crowns him with a leafy wreath and holds a sprig of white lilies, while the other two gaze up at the saint. Finally, the word Charitas (Latin for Charity) surrounded by brilliant red flames appears in the upper left corner. A beautiful religious painting, likely created in Mexico and set in an attractive frame featuring decorative carvings of leafy tendrils and golden hues to complement the composition. Size of painting: 22.75" L x 17.5" W (57.8 cm x 44.4 cm) Size of frame: 31.75" L x 27.5" W (80.6 cm x 69.8 cm)

San Francisco de Paula is credited with miraculous cures, resurrecting the deceased, protection against fires, comfort for the maimed, the blind, and otherwise disabled, and preventing plagues. In Spanish Colonial paintings, San Francisco de Paula is depicted as a friar with the word Caritas (in this case the Latin variant Charitas) or Caridad, oftentimes surrounded by flames, in his vicinity. He received his name following a visit with his parents to the shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s

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#170427

Painting shows some fading/loss to pigments, scuffs/abrasions, and stains commensurate with age. There are also some areas of restoration. The frame has some scuffs and abrasions as shown. This said, the composition is still very nice and the painting is fitted with a suspension wire.