St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony of Padua was a thirteenth-century Franciscan friar noted for his preaching, scriptural exegesis, and devotion to the poor. By the time of his death at age thirty-five, he was so renowned for his holiness that he was canonized within a year. Today, he is best known as the patron saint of lost items.

In art, Anthony is often depicted holding the Christ Child, owing to a story about a mystical vision he received. He is also associated with the lily, a symbol of purity.

In 2025, George and Polly were commissioned by a private patron to create an original devotional painting that incorporates these attributes, with a particular focus on the tender love and mutual affection shared between the saintly friar and the Divine Infant. The resulting 30x25” oil painting draws the viewer into an intimate experience of their spiritual encounter, with the bucolic Euganean Hills near Padua as a backdrop.