Patrons of the Family
Patrons of the Family
Patrons of the Family

Patrons of the Family

Author: N / A

Created: 1873.

Material / technique: oil on canvas.

Dimensions: 63x124 cm.

The painting depicts: St Catherine, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Anthony, and St Joseph with the Infant Jesus who is crowning St Joseph.

There was a custom to have a patron saint of the same name as a personal teacher and guardian in troubles and in the face of God. Each saint highlighted different truths of the faith and values. Paintings of patron saints were placed on the wall of the most honourable part of a house where guests or the master of the household were seated. Usually there was also a Crucifix on the wall.

Only Our Lord knows how many Catholics became saints. The Holy Church counts thousands upon thousands of martyrs and many other faithful servants of the Lord. Therefore, if anyone wished to write down the names of all the saints, the books would be huge. Whatever I knew, I left descriptions of the crowds of servants of God to those who are stronger than me and recorded the lives of only those saints, whose names people of our country are able to use. It would be really nice for many to know their guardian or patron, what good deeds he did and what he did to become a saint. That is why I hope that kind Catholics will read my book and, admiring the good deeds of the saints, would take after their example and would become saints themselves. Let Our Lord give this to each. I wrote this in Varniai in the year 1854. (Motiejus Valančius, „Žyvatai šventųjų“, Raštai 2, 2006, p. 11)

Like bees who find wax with honey on various herbs, so do people who read about the lives of saints find a good lesson in each. One saint teaches humility, another – fasting, yet another – passionate praying, patience and so on. (Motiejus Valančius, „Gyvenimai šventųjų Dievo“, Raštai, 2003, p. 309). 

Reference: "The Lithuanian art collection of Jaunius Gumbis". Museum and Collector - 6. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2016, P. 250.

Exhibition: Exhibition of the collection of Lithuanian art of dr. Jaunius Gumbis "Collected and Preserved", September 2016 - January 2017, National Museum of Lithuania, Vilnius.

Published: "The Lithuanian art collection of Jaunius Gumbis". Museum and Collector - 6. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2016, P. 251.

Photographs: display in the exhibition "Collected and Preserved", September 2016 - January 2017, National Museum of Lithuania, Vilnius.