The Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua (Murillo) facts for kids
The Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua is a famous painting from 1656. It was created by the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. This large oil painting shows Saint Anthony having a special vision. It was made for the Seville Cathedral in Spain, where it still hangs today.
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About the Painting
The painting was ordered by the church leaders at Seville Cathedral. It was meant to be the main artwork for the chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua. An "altarpiece" is a work of art placed behind the altar in a church. Murillo's painting replaced an older one in the chapel.
A Close Call During War
During the Peninsula War, French soldiers took over Seville. They raided the cathedral and stole many valuable things. Two other famous paintings by Murillo, Immaculate Conception and Birth of the Virgin, were taken. The Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua was almost stolen too! But the city council made a deal. They offered to trade Nativity of the Virgin to keep The Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua in its place. So, the painting stayed safe in the chapel.
The Painting's Amazing Journey
A Piece Goes Missing
In November 1874, something surprising happened. People discovered that a part of the painting was missing! Thieves had cut out the section showing Saint Anthony himself.
Found in New York
Just a few months later, in January 1875, the missing piece showed up in New York City. A Spanish person tried to sell it to an art gallery there. The seller claimed it was a complete painting by Murillo, saying Saint Anthony was one of the artist's favorite subjects.
The owner of the gallery, Hermann Schaus, was smart. He agreed to buy the piece for $250. But first, he secretly contacted the Spanish consulate (a government office that helps people from its country in another land).
Back Home Again
Once the sale was complete, Schaus sent the painting fragment to the Spanish Consulate. From there, it traveled a long way back to Seville, passing through Havana and Cadiz. In 1875, the missing piece was finally returned to Seville Cathedral. A skilled restorer named Salvador Martínez Cubells carefully put the piece back into the painting. Thanks to these efforts, the famous artwork was made whole again!
See also
In Spanish: La visión de San Antonio de Padua (Murillo) para niños
