16 Works, RELIGIOUS ART — January 3, is Saint Genevieve’s Day, With Footnotes — 162
Oct 13, 2022
L’enfance de Sainte Geneviève , c. 1874–1874
Oil on Canvas
52 x 102.3 cm. (20.5 x 40.3 in.)
Private collection
St. Genevieve (422–512), was born at Nanterre, a village on the outskirts of Paris, during the time of Attila the Hun. She was a shepherdess, the only child of Severus and Gerontia, hardworking peasants. She was seven years old when Saint Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, was visiting the village with Saint Lupus, on their way to great Britain to combat the heresy of Pelagius. Seeing Genevieve in the crowd, Bishop St. Germain laid his hands on her head, and asked if she wanted to give herself to the Lord. Genevieve said “Yes!” Her mother opposed her decision, which angered Genevieve tremendously…