Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336)

studio of Francisco de Zurbarán (Fuente de Cantos 1598 - Madrid 1664). Oil painting on canvas, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336), studio of Francisco de Zurbaran (Fuente de Cantos 1598 - Madrid 1664), 1630-50. A full-length, walking to the right her head turned three-quarters to spectator her eyes looking directing at spectator, dressed in sumptuous clothes, composed of a brown dress, heavily trimmed with pearls and embroidery at the sleeves and hem and a yellow cloak thrown back from her shoulder; she also wears a jewelled circlet her head and forehead. She is holding flowers in the ample folds of her dress which she holds up in front of her. Bought to replace the Velazquez portrait of Philip IV, sold to Isabella Stewart Gardner in 1896. Named after her grand-aunt Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231), daughter of Pedro III of Spain (1239-1285), she married King Denis of Portugal (1261-1325). As queen she was known for her piety, generosity and social concern for the welfare of the people. Her marriage, which was unhappy produced two children, one of whom succeeded as King Alphonso IV of Portugal (1291-1357). On the death of her husband she went on a pilgrimage to Compostela, became a Franciscan tertiary and retired to Coimbra where she spent the remainder of her life near the Poor Clare convent which she had founded. In the year of her death her son Alphonso IV led his troops against Alphonso XI of Castile (1311-1350). Elizabeth went onto the battlefield itself and reconciled them, thus averting the usual bloodbath which would have ensued. She died on the 4th July at Esteremoz and her body was taken for burial at Coimbra. Miracles were associated with her tomb and she was canonised by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644). Her emblem in art is the rose, either worn in a crown or carried in wintertime, which was based on a legend that when her brutal husband challenged her with wasting her substance on the poor the scraps of food gathered in her dress miraculously turned to roses. Her feast day is 4th July and she is invoked in time of war. Kingston Lacy Estate, Dorset (Accredited Museum)