Jean de Saint-Igny (vers 1598-1649): La dévotion de Sainte Geneviève, huile sur toile

Work: 228 x 143,5 cm

Frame: 247 x 163,5 cm

The painting represents an episode in the life of Saint Genevieve: on arriving in Nanterre, Saint Germain notices a young girl in the crowd whom he designates as chosen by God. He offers her to become a nun and she accepts. Saint Genevieve became the patron of Paris, suggesting a Parisian destination for the painting: Genevieve was the dedicatee of a very active abbey between 1619 and 1634 with Cardinal de La Rochefoucauld or the painting could also have been painted for the abbey church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés which is here the interlocutor of the saint.

We thank Mr. Sylvain Kerspern for the information about the painting (a report-certificate is provided with the work).