St. Clare Expelling the Saracens from Assisi: Religious Confrontation in Word and Image

The early modern iconographie representations of St. Clare of Assisi (1193-1253) often show her carrying the monstrance with the Eucharist. This act refers to the episode of September 1240, when the Saracen mercenaries of Emperor Federick II attacked the unprotected small monastery of the Poor Ladie...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Debby, Nirit Ben-Aryeh (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sixteenth Century Journal Publishers, Inc. 2012
In: The sixteenth century journal
Year: 2012, Volume: 43, Issue: 3, Pages: 643-665
Online Access: Volltext (JSTOR)
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Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
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Summary:The early modern iconographie representations of St. Clare of Assisi (1193-1253) often show her carrying the monstrance with the Eucharist. This act refers to the episode of September 1240, when the Saracen mercenaries of Emperor Federick II attacked the unprotected small monastery of the Poor Ladies of San Damiano. The weak and sick Clare is often portrayed as lifting up the monstrance while standing at the dormitory door and striking the Saracen troops below with the brilliance of the Eucharist. The target of this essay is to trace the evolution of this enigmatic scene in Italian art in connection with the Franciscan religious literature, particularly as expressed in sermons. The article will focus on the later phase of the popularity of this scene in early modern Italy. The story gains new meanings over the years; ultimately, St. Clare becomes a Crusade heroine defending Christianity against infidels and an emblem of Tridentine Catholic theology and its admiration for the Host.
ISSN:2326-0726
Contains:Enthalten in: The sixteenth century journal