This painting, by Arredondo, shows Saint Clare holding up the Blessed Sacrament and frightening Saracen invaders.
St. Clare is depicted as a young nun, wearing a black habit. The saint raises a golden monstrance, containing the Eucharist. She holds a white cloth between her hand and the surface of the monstrance. The holy nun gazes up at the large white host. The host emits bright rays of light.
St. Clare stands at the top of some stone steps. There are stone pillars in the background of the painting on the right side. Above the saint’s head, on the left side of the painting, is a draped red curtain. There are cherubs near the curtain. An angel kneels behind St. Clare and another stands in front of St. Clare and the Eucharist, holding up a golden cross on a long gold pole. All the angels gaze at the Blessed Sacrament in rapt adoration.
Two soldiers, one on each side of the painting’s foreground, turn to flee the brilliance of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
Download the digitally-restored image here.
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Isabella Childs
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