5 Heavenly Patrons of the Arts

Come to think of it, I pray to everyone on a carroza you see here before I paint, although only two of them are mentioned in this post, which is specifically about patron saints of art or artists. 

I know I’m not the best artist, so to me it makes sense to ask for a little help every time I make something. Every time I do, I’m reminded of how Salieri (in that Wolfie movie, anyway) used to beg God to help him compose. Well, we all know what Salieri was ‘patron saint’ of, lol ~ so for me to do pretty much the same thing makes sense, too.

In any case, with Holy Week coming up as I write this, I thought I might share the patron saints I pray to for help as a sort of tiny x lame expression of thanks. Left on my own I doubt I would ever have been able to make anything good. If I mess things up x the work’s not up to scratch, that’s on me (I confess I can’t say I pray very attentively to them like 100% of the time) ^^;

Since I’m lazy, much of the information here comes from our good (albeit not entirely reliable) friend Wikipedia and my own memory (which is arguably even more unreliable ^o^) unless otherwise stated.

1. St Luke

I have always been a huge fan of St Luke for several reasons~ not only is he a patron of the arts, but also of writers and physicians. (So you can imagine I rely on him for a lot of things, not the least of which is my *day* job.)

I have a favourite painting of St Luke by Vladimir Borovikovsky, and the Salus Populi Romani is the painting attributed to him which we can still see today at the church of St Mary Major. But I thought I’d put this one of him because it is said that the Blessed Virgin Mary posed for St Luke so that he could paint her. (And also because I love this drawing ^_^)

Saint Luke Painting the Virgin - drawing by Georg Anton Urlaub (MET, 1975.1.874)

In case you were wondering about the ox, St Luke is traditionally represented by a winged ox (with the other authors of the Gospels having their own winged symbols). According to Aleteia, it’s because the ox was a sacrificial animal and St Luke’s Gospel focused on Our Lord’s sacrifice on the cross.

I’ve also heard it said that St Luke painted the Blessed Virgin on his knees, and I do remember a painting by Mabuse that shows this as well as an angel guiding his hand as he worked on it. Anyway, if you paint, write or know somebody who’s sick (or studying to be a doctor or something), St Luke’s feast day is October 18th.
​

2. Blessed Fra Angelico

The famous art school back here at the university my brother went to basically named their building after Blessed Fra Angelico, and with good reason. He was famous for his frescoes during the Early Renaissance, and I’m not sure but I think his Annunciation which I thought I’d share here is one of his most famous works (in any case it’s one of my favourites of his).

Fra Angelico artist QS:P170,Q5664, ANGELICO, Fra Annunciation, 1437-46 (2236990916), CC BY 2.0

It is said that Blessed Fra Angelico started out as an illuminator before he started working on things like altarpieces and screens. I’m glad there are still quite a few of his works around now because it appears that none of his early works survived.

In any case, Blessed Fra Angelico went on to create more altarpieces and frescoes like the ones at the Chapter House of the Friary of San Marco, and a number of other chapels in the Vatican.

I had a friend back at uni who ended up in Rome for a spell and she sent me this prayer to Blessed Fra Angelico which she translated from the Italian (written on a Post-It on top of the original ^_^). I don’t think it’s a traditional prayer or anything but I like to pray this before I work because it kind of reminds me of why we do what we do, you know? And to Whom we owe everything we have that enables us to do art ~ anyway, just thought I’d share ^_^

O God, You Who gave man the joy of knowing You and serving You through the different forms of artistic creativity, grant us the cultivators of art, through the intercession of Blessed Angelico, our patron, to see Your beauty in creation, to know how to celebrate this beauty through our works and to be able to contemplate this very same beauty in the vision of heavenly beatitude. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
​

3. St Charles Borromeo

I'm not sure that ‘patron of the arts’ is the first thing that comes to mind when we hear the name of this great saint. But ever since I found out that he was one, I very quickly adopted the habit of praying to him before working, too (because folks like me who weren’t necessarily born geniuses need all the help we can get ^^; )

I also don’t remember where or how exactly I found out that St Charles Borromeo was a patron of the arts, but I did find corroboration on the websites of the Brooklyn and Picayune, Mississippi churches which bear his name.

St Carlo Borromeo Tended by an Angel by Francesco Caccianiga 

St Charles Borromeo lived in the 1500s and was one of the leaders of the Counter-Reformation. He’s also a patron of learning as well as the arts, so in case you’re painting and studying, his feast day is November 4th. His incorrupt body is in Milan where he served as Archbishop.
​

4. St Catherine of Bologna

As a female artist myself, I was naturally delighted beyond measure to find a female patron saint for art, who is also a writer. St Catherine of Bologna lived in the 1400s and was from a rich family. Even so, she went and joined the Poor Clares where she became the Mistress of Novices. She also had visions of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin, and the future.

St Catherine copied a breviary which contained her own illustrations of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin and several saints. She also produced drawings and paintings like this one of the Madonna of the Peach:

It struck me when I read that she said how even if art took up a lot of valuable time, she was doing it to ‘increase devotion for herself and others’. (Arthur, Kathleen G. (2004). "Images of Clare and Francis in Caterina Vigri's Personal Breviary”.) Makes me wonder ~ what am I doing it for…
​
I would also mention that she was also very prolific as a writer, and that her work has been translated into six languages. Like St Charles Borromeo, St Catherine is also an incorruptible with her body seated on a throne in the Corpus Domini church in Bologna. She’s also a patron saint against temptations and her feast day is March 9th.

5. St Philip Neri

I actually only found out very recently that St Philip Neri was also a patron of the arts (making him the latest addition to the small litany I pray before buckling down to it in the painting factory).

I knew St Philip was the patron saint of comedians and that he had a great sense of humour, which is why he had always stood out to me (plus, his feast day, May 26th is the birthday of a favourite aunt). So now I have all the more reason to pray to him.

F Neri by Sebastiano Conca

History shows that he was from a noble family, but he chose to serve the poor instead. He would later go on to found a confraternity which took care of poor pilgrims coming to Rome and convalescents who were still too weak to go back to work.

Even so, it is said that he was a real man of the world; a real, polished gentleman and a great and witty conversationalist. He also said that being cheerful was more Christian than being glum, and this positive attitude made him popular especially among the poor.

I should also remember that he’s also a patron saint of writers ~ and of laughter. And that he said: ‘Let me get through today, and I shall not fear tomorrow.’ (Miller, Don (2016-05-26). "Saint Philip Neri". Franciscan Media.)
​

Bonus! No. 6 - St Joseph

While St Joseph isn’t exactly a patron saint of artists, he is invoked as the Model of Artisans in his litany. And even if St Thomas Aquinas has made the distinction between artisans (craftsmen) and artists, I still pray to St Joseph before working because art is work that you do particularly with your hands.

Joseph the Carpenter, by Georges de La Tour, c. 1645

Plus this particular prayer I use for art really hits home with me, especially the part about developing your gifts through labour and to just keep plugging away even if you’re tired or the work is hard. Isn’t that what an art practice is all about?

"Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an honour to employ and to develop by labour the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty; to work, above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render of time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity." - Pope Pius IX

Plus, I also owe St Joseph a lot for a lot of other things, so, I just thought I might include him here as a tiny, tinier, tiniest way to show my thanks.

​
And thank you for spending time with me here and reading this far~I hope you’ll stick around to explore my portfolio and maybe even read another jillablog post or two ^^ I’m always grateful for any form of support for my practice, and may these saints and the Queen of All Saints support you in yours, in whatever form it may be.
​