Saint Paschal Baylon's Vision of the Eucharist
- Artist: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
- Date: 1767
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Saint Paschal Baylon’s Vision of the Eucharist” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Painted in 1767, this oil on canvas was intended for the high altar of the church dedicated to St. Pascual Baylon. The scene unfolds in an arid garden, where the saint kneels, a simple prayerful gesture, his plain robes echoing the austerity of the Franciscan friars. Suddenly, an angel rises from the earth, holding a gilded monstrance that glows against the muted background. Tiepolo contrasts the angel’s luminous presence with the modest saint, highlighting the spiritual hierarchy and the humble devotion of the friars.
The saint’s gardening hoe is a subtle but powerful detail; it recalls the Franciscans’ emphasis on manual labor and humility. Tiepolo uses light to pull the eye to the angel, while the earth tones ground the composition in earthly reality. The overall effect is one of quiet reverence, inviting viewers to contemplate the Eucharist’s mystery within a simple, everyday setting.
See it in person
Saint Paschal Baylon's Vision of the Eucharist hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
