Watercolor and pencil 2007-2008. Inspired after reading about St. Guinefort, a greyhound that was made saint in the 13th Century as well as St. Christopher Cynephoros, referred to as the Dog-Headed Saint.
Top Left, Right: Unnamed Saints as birds of prey
Top Center: Bishop Stefan of Perm as an owl
Center: St. Kirill Novoezersky as a dog
Bottom Left, Right: Saints Ferapont and Martinian as rabbits
Bottom Center: Reliquary of Saint Anthony of Padua’s nose as a pig
The reliquary of St Anthony is based on his tongue and jawbone which are on display at the Basilica of St. Anthony in Padua. I recalled being terrified after seeing it in person as a 5-year-old. This created a fear/fascination of churches growing up, since so many in Italy have relics of saints, usually a body part.
Madonna and Child as Owls
The Free Thinker
Based on St Albertus Magnus(1200?-1280), known as Saint Albert the Great, A Dominican bishop who became famous for his knowledge of and advocacy for the peaceful coexistence of science and religion. He was also one of the first to apply Aristotle’s philosophy to Christian thought. He was also known for his writings on alchemy (Magnus is deeply rooted in legends regarding alchemy, one stating he discovered the Philosopher’s Stone and passed it to his pupil St. Thomas Aquinas). Behind the Free Thinker are the stages of alchemy regarding permutation of lead to gold.
The Cautious Saint
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Select Giclee prints available
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Josean Rivera 