39 Saint Anthony of Padua

1987
Artist: Marie Romero Cash, Size: 10”

This image depicts St. Anthony of Padua. St Anthony holds the Christ Child in his right arm while he holds a lily in his left hand. St Anthony once had a mystical experience in which the Christ child visited him one night when he was in prayer and he was able to hold the Christ Child in his arms. This is why he is depicted as holding the Christ child in his arms. The lily represents virtue and purity.

St. Anthony is a member of the Franciscan order and is usually depicted in the brown habit, however, the Franciscan friars who were active in colonial New Mexico wore grey blue habits. There are two flower pots to Anthony’s right and left, possibly lilies which have not yet bloomed.