Saint Louis of Toulouse: The Iconography

In Brignoles, Provence, the burial of St. Louis, of the Order of [Friars] Minor, Bishop of Toulouse. He was famous for his miracles and for the sanctity of his life. His body was translated Translation is a liturgical process in which a saint's body is moved to a more appropriate location such as a major church or chapel. from Brignoles to Marseille and reverently laid down in the Franciscan Church there. Later it was moved to Valencia, Spain, and placed in the cathedral. – Roman Martyrology for August 19

This saint died at age 24 after less than eight months as Bishop of Toulouse. For this reason he is always portrayed as a beardless youth in sumptuous "pontificals," the formal garb worn by medieval bishops on the most solemn occasions. This is ironic, because as bishop of Toulouse he lived and dressed very humbly and encouraged his clergy to do the same. Once when he came upon a naked beggar, he even took off his own Franciscan habit and gave it to the man.1

I have combed through a great deal of original material regarding Louis and found nothing that would explain portraying him in sumptuous garments. It may be that they signify his spiritual habiliments. For that possibility, note the verse from a hymn for his feast day, "The one whom modesty, piety, and humble life bedeck (decorat) / God exalts and crowns with royal honor" (Dreves and Blume, XXVI, 265).

The pontificals in the saint's images include silk gloves and a richly embroidered cope with a jeweled clasp at the neck. The image at right allows Louis's simple gray habit to show through the pontificals. Most other images do not.

Prepared in 2016 by Richard Stracke, Emeritus Professor of English, Augusta University


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Detail from a Madonna and Child with Saints (See the description page)


A fresco of the saint in Croatia (See the description page)


Louis is among the multitude of saints worshipping the Deity on the left side of the Trinity Altarpiece from the Valldecrist monastery in Valencia. Louis is the patron saint of Valencia, where his relics rest. (See the description page for the left side or the entire altarpiece.)

ATTRIBUTES

  • Crozier and ornate mitre
  • Cope with ornately embroidered hem
  • Silk gloves

MORE IMAGES

  • 14th century: St. Louis is pictured in his Franciscan habit rather than the customary "pontificals" in this detail in Baronzio's Madonna and Child with Angels and Saint.
  • 15th century: Statue in Sant'Alvise Church, Venice.
  • 16th/17th century: Damini's painting of Louis's consecration as bishop of Toulouse is on view in his church in Venice.

DATES

  • Feast day: August 19
  • Lived 1274-97

NAMES

  • Sometimes identified as Louis of "Tolosa," Toulouse's name in the local Occitan language.
  • Also known as Louis of Anjou, the royal family to which he belonged.
  • In Italy, known as Sant'Alvise.
  • In the Americas he is called San Luis Obispo, "St. Louis the Bishop," which distinguishes him from San Luis Rey, "St. Louis the King."

BIOGRAPHY

  • Acta Sanctorum, August vol. 3, 775-822 (Vita: 806-822).
  • "Vita S. Ludovici Episcopi Tolosani." Ed. Iohannis de Orta. Analecta Bollandiana (IX, 1890), 278-353.
  • The Chronicle of the 24 Generals has an overview of Louis's life based on the Latin vitae. In Muscat's English translation it is on pages 582-92.
  • Butler, III, 357-59.
  • Hymns for this saint's feast in the old Franciscan Breviary are in Dreves and Blume, XXVI, 265-74.

NOTES

1 Acta Sanctorum, August vol. 3, 785, 815.

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