Saint Francis preaching to the birds CC1166 Card

Saint Francis preaching to the birds, painted by German artist Johann Anton Ramboux in 1808. An eye-catching painting, with the preaching Saint Francis, his monk brother, and the listening birds shown against a bright blue background. The painting has been digitally restored, partly in order to enhance this highly decorative feature. Inside the card is an excerpt from the legend about Saint Francis and the birds: One day, while Francis was travelling with some companions, they happened upon a place in the road where birds filled the trees on either side. Francis told his companions to "wait for me while I go to preach to my sisters the birds." The birds surrounded him, intrigued by the power of his voice, and not one of them flew away. The model of the Ramboux's painting is fresco number 15 in The Saint Francis cycle in the Upper Church of San Francesco at Assisi (titled Sermon to the birds). The fresco cycle is dated between 1297-1300 and traditionally attributed to Giotto di Bondone.