Artwork
Saint Bonaventure Arriving and Preaching in Lyon
Saint Bonaventure Arriving and Preaching in Lyon is an ink print by the Renaissance artist French 15th Century. It dates from 1485 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is a hand‑colored woodcut depicting Saint Bonaventure’s arrival and preaching in Lyon.
About this work
Overview
The work is a hand‑colored woodcut depicting Saint Bonaventure’s arrival and preaching in Lyon. Executed with a limited palette of vermilion, orange‑rose, gray‑blue and lavender, the image is outlined in black and organized into a densely populated composition that combines narrative vignettes with symbolic motifs.
Subject & Meaning
The central narrative follows the Franciscan theologian Saint Bonaventure as he enters the city, is received by a dignified assembly, and delivers a sermon.
The central narrative follows the Franciscan theologian Saint Bonaventure as he enters the city, is received by a dignified assembly, and delivers a sermon. A throne‑like platform hosts a seated group, one figure cradling an infant, suggesting a civic or ecclesiastical audience. Beneath a tent‑shaped canopy, a crowd gathers to listen, while surrounding riders and winged angels frame the event, emphasizing both earthly authority and divine endorsement.
Technique & Style
The image was produced by carving a design into a wooden block, inking it, and printing it onto paper. After printing, the artist applied hand‑applied colors using vermilion, orange‑rose, light and dark gray‑blue, and lavender, creating a vivid yet slightly faded effect. The black outlines define intricate details, allowing the miniature scenes to remain legible despite the work’s compact scale.
Context
Woodcuts of this type were common in the late medieval and early Renaissance periods for disseminating religious narratives to a broad audience. The depiction of Bonaventure, a 13th‑century saint, reflects the continued veneration of Franciscan figures in devotional art and the use of prints to celebrate local ecclesiastical events such as his visit to Lyon.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist hid their best work inside old travel trunks. They glued vivid woodcuts into the lids of wooden boxes meant to be carried on horseback, like secret postcards from God. If you’ve ever pried open a cracked lid…
Madonna with the Rosary
The Last Judgment
Panel of Ornament with a Satyress Feeding Two Children
The Madonna Enthroned with Eighteen Holy Women
Saint John the Baptist Pray for Us
Saint Alto, Saint Bridget and the Founders of the Mariamunster
Franciscan, Pelbartus of Temesvar, in a Garden
The Madonna and Child
Tantric Manuscript "Sangrahani Sutra"
The Sacred Monogram
The Last Judgment in the Presence of the Saints and the Archangel Michael
Saint Bonaventure Arriving and Preaching in Lyon