{"product_id":"st-francis-of-assisi","title":"St Francis of Assisi","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout the painting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold Commission\u003c\/strong\u003e for \u003ci\u003eThe St Francis of Assisi, Catholic Primary School\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis scene shows St Francis of Assisi’s love of nature and animals, depicted in a woodland setting, as he is known for blessing animals. The white dove represents the Holy Spirit. The shape of his fingers and the dove, form a central triangle, to represent the holy trinity. Whilst the rabbits, birds and deer depict natural innocence, like the children of the school. The wolf represents the Wolf of Gubbio, where legend has it that St. Francis of Assisi tamed and saved a ferocious wolf, that had been terrorizing the medieval Italian town of Gubbio.\u003cspan\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtwork details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e40 x 60cm (16\" x 24\")\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Oil paint\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSurface:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Linen-treated canvas\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e01\/01\/2026\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVarnish:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Gamblin Gamvar Satin varnish \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBackground\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eto the Project\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis original artwork was both my first oil painting and commission, representing the start of my oil painting career, created at the request of Dennis Batchelor as a gift for \u003ci\u003eSt Francis of Assisi, Catholic Primary School\u003c\/i\u003e in West Sussex, UK. This painting set me off on the journey. At the time I said yes, but I wasn’t even sure if I could do it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eDennis had already bought some of my drawings and at the end of 2025 asked for a scene showing St Francis of Assisi blessing a dove, surrounded by animals and some birds. This time he asked for it in colour, which to me was confirmation of what I was called to do, to learn to paint in oil. It was both exciting and nerve racking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eI created several sketches and different compositions for him to choose from. We tweaked some of the details as I moved into the final drawing and into my first oil painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eI gave up work and cleared out my mums garage to create an Art studio with black drapes, an easel and palettes made from some glass I had found. It was here that I taught myself to paint from a limited palette, like the old masters. I felt guided by The Creator and His Holy Spirit. I kept Dennis up to date with progress pictures and was very pleased and relieved that he liked the final result.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTestimony\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003e “Words cannot express how grateful I am for the original artwork that you have so kindly created and donated to our school.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe oil painting is beautiful and is proudly displayed at the front of the school, where it is admired by visitors and our school community alike…\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThank you for so perfectly capturing the spirit and essence of our wonderful school. Your talent and generosity are greatly appreciated, and your artwork will be enjoyed for many years to come.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSam Winton\u003cbr\u003eHeadteacher\u003cbr\u003eSt Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eReference images \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI compiled images via Internet searches, research and lengthy Chat GPT prompts, which I then edited in Photoshop and created sketches from for Dennis’s feedback and approval, to then create the final agreed composition and piece. I later gave this final drawing to the school, which is now hanging in the Head Teacher’s office.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Martin Buckwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57282488533316,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0976\/7609\/9908\/files\/St_Francis_Painting_framed-40x60cm.jpg?v=1789566838","url":"https:\/\/martinbuckwell.com\/products\/st-francis-of-assisi","provider":"Martin Buckwell","version":"1.0","type":"link"}