Christ Child
Infant Christ appearing during prayer—distinct from Joseph’s foster-father role.
Saints
Saint Anthony of Padua
Anthony of Lisbon
A friar holds the Christ Child, sometimes seated on a book. The Franciscan habit sets Anthony apart from Joseph in a similar scene.
Saint Anthony of Padua with the Christ ChildBartolomé Esteban Murillo · c. 1668–1669
01 / 03
- Feast
- June 13
- Era
- 1195–1231 · Portugal, Italy
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Iconographic Attributes
Iconographic field guide
Identifying features
The Christ Child on a book or in arms is Anthony’s signature mystical episode. Lily signals purity; bread references “St. Anthony’s Bread” charity. He never carries carpenter tools—that is Joseph. Preaching-to-fishes scenes are narrative, not portrait attributes.
- Clothing
- brown Franciscan habit · cord
- Colours
- brown · white
- Symbols
- Christ Child on book
Book
Symbol of his doctrine and preaching
Lily
Symbol of purity
Bread
Loaves for the poor distributed in his name on his feast.
Franciscan Habit
He was a Friar Minor
Visual Gallery
Works / 03Saint Anthony of Padua with the Christ ChildBartolomé Esteban Murillo · c. 1668–1669
Saint Anthony of PaduaAntonio del Castillo y Saavedra · c. 1645
Saint Anthony of Padua with the Christ ChildFrancisco de Zurbarán · c. 1635-1650
Biography
Life & legacy
Holy SeeBorn in Lisbon, Anthony first joined the Augustinian canons and later became a Franciscan. He preached in France and Italy and died near Padua in 1231. A book recalls his teaching; the Christ Child in devotional portraits recalls a vision in his legend.
Sermones; rapid canonization 1232; incorrupt tongue relic in Padua.
Representation in Sacred Art
Narrative scenes to recognize
with the Christ Child
preaching to the fishes
miracle of the mule
Visual Recognition Guide
1.Christ Child in arms
Mystical vision he had
2.Brown Franciscan habit
He was a Friar Minor
3.Book
Symbol of his doctrine and preaching
4.Lily
Symbol of purity
5.Bread
For the "bread of the poor" distributed in his name
Patronage and Devotion
lost objectsthe poortravelersengaged couplesPortugalPadua
Distinguishing Similar Figures
Often confused with Saint Francis of Assisi: Both wear Franciscan habit
Often confused with Saint Joseph: Both appear with the Christ Child
Notes from the Archive
- Invoked to find lost objects
- His tongue is preserved incorrupt in Padua
Practice
