Saint Clotilde, Painting on wooden panel, circa 1700. Saint Queen of Francs

Painting on panel, circa 1700, depicting a Crowned Saint Queen

Period: Circa 1700

Technique: Oil on panel

Dimensions:

With frame: 44 x 33 cm

Without frame: 39 x 28 cm

Frame: Painted wooden frame with a marbled effect, dating to the early 20th century

The painting depicts a saint crowned and holding a scepter adorned with a fleur-de-lis, an iconography typical of Saint Clotilde.

Clotilde was born in the Kingdom of Lyon, a territory that her father, Chilperic, a barbarian prince of the Burgundian tribe, had inherited.

She married Clovis I, King of the Franks, in 493. Her influence was instrumental in his conversion to Christianity, thereby promoting the spread of the faith among the Franks. After her husband’s death in 511, Clotilde withdrew to Tours, dedicating herself to prayer and charitable works. She died there on June 3, 545, and is venerated as a saint, considered the patroness of queens, family stability, marriages, and the conversion of peoples.

The saint is depicted wearing a robe adorned with rich details, reflecting the popular style of the time. The pictorial surface, well-preserved, retains its original film intact. A dark patina, formed over time, adds authentic charm to the work, which remains visually captivating even without restoration.

Condition: The original painting is intact, with very few losses. The dark patina could be removed to reveal the original colors, but the work retains all its charm in its current state.