ITALIAN ENAMELED MONASTIC LARGE ICON, ST. FRANCIS
the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi
half moon-form, depicting a group of friars mourning the dead St. Francis, his body with halo and stigmata to the hands and soles of his feet; 26"h; 39"w; ebonized frame, 31.75"h; 44"w
The Latin inscription below: Laudato si mi Signore per sora nostra morte corporale. translates "Be praised, my Lord, for our sister bodily death." The quote is from a part of a Franciscan chant titled, 'Canticle of Creatures (of the Sun)'. After Francis' close encounter with death while in battle, he woke up and became aware of his relationship to his own mortality and his relationship to nature. After this awakening (metanoia), he referred to everything he had a relationship to as either "Brother" or "Sister." Hence, "Sister Death." The Transitus (death) of Saint Francis on October 3rd is still celebrated by Franciscans on that day. The Franciscan Mendicant Order was founded in the 13th c.
Prov.: Prov.: An Italian gentleman and his family, of Jewish heritage, forced to flee from their home in Milan, Italy to Paris at the beginning of WWII. See lot 34 for more details.
Estimate: $800 - $1,200
Realized: $2,750 - Excluding Buyer's Premium
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Lot 115 : ITALIAN ENAMELED MONASTIC LARGE ICON, ST. FRANCIS
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