St. Paschal Baylon Adoring the Blessed Sacrament 1625 - 1685

Claude François created this oil on paper titled "St. Paschal Baylon Adoring the Blessed Sacrament." During the 17th century, images of saints were part of the visual and spiritual fabric of everyday life, guiding the faithful through the complexities of devotion and duty. François situates Saint Paschal in a moment of profound connection with the divine. Kneeling, with rosary in hand, he is an earthly figure amidst heavenly light. Consider how the subdued palette and soft rendering of the cherubic figures above contrast with the sharper, more defined edges of St. Paschal, grounding him in our space, while the angels inhabit another realm. It invites reflection on the nature of faith, and the intimate relationship between the human and the divine. The image transcends simple religious iconography; it becomes a meditation on the very act of worship, and the deeply personal quest for spiritual understanding.