Die Heilige Klara, die Hostie tragend c. 1595

Francesco Vanni rendered this drawing of Saint Clare holding the Eucharist sometime between 1563 and 1610. At its heart, this image presents us with light, both divine and earthly, and the vessel that contains it. Note how St. Clare delicately holds a monstrance, the sacred vessel that enshrines the Eucharistic host, which radiates with an unearthly glow that overcomes the darkness. It is a symbol of faith, purity, and divine protection. In antiquity, light was often linked with divinity and knowledge, a motif carried forward in various religious contexts, not unlike the halo here, which marks St. Clare as a sacred being. The act of holding and protecting, as depicted here, appears in images throughout time, reflecting a profound, archetypal desire to safeguard the sacred. This image subtly evokes the psycho-emotional resonance of protection and faith, engaging viewers on a visceral level. As we observe these symbols, we are reminded that meaning is never static, but always in flux, continually shaped by the currents of history and human experience.