Getty Museum

Christ Blessing Saint Hedwig; Saint Hedwig Washing Her Grandson's Face

Date

1353

Medium

Tempera colors, colored washes, and ink

Culture

Silesian

Department

Manuscripts

Institution

Getty Museum

As part of a sequence of illustrations from the life of Saint Hedwig of Silesia, the upper half of this miniature depicts one of her visions, witnessed by a nun peering from a doorway. Saint Hedwig had prayed to Jesus to allow the nuns of the convent at Trebnitz to continue their good work. The inscription describes the miracle that occurred: "Lifting the right hand and arm from the wood of the cross, this image of the crucified one blesses Saint Hedwig." Jesus' blessing is written on the speech scroll: "Your prayer is heard. Your request is granted." The artist rendered the figure of Jesus with a more refined technique than that used on the other figures. Subtle modeling suggests roundness on Jesus' face and the folds of his transparent drapery, while Hedwig's face and gown are much less well defined. The statue of Christ on the cross thus seems more real than the living woman below, bringing Hedwig's vision of the crucified Christ to life for the viewer. The scene below shows Hedwig in a characteristic act of humility. She washes herself and her grandson with the same water used by the nuns to bathe their feet.

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