St Anthony of Padua
After joining the Franciscan Friars St Anthony left for Morocco, however he contacted a serious illness & set sail for home (Portugal) but the boat was driven off course & landed in Sicily. After many tribulations due to his illness he eventually settled in Padua.
The Sculpture
St Anthony is commonly portrayed as a clean-shaven young man holding the baby Jesus but in this sculpture St Anthony is portrayed with a beard ( a custom of Franciscan monks in the 13th Century). And instead of the infant Jesus, the artist has shown a mature Christ within St Anthony himself.
The sculpture is inspired by a popular story of St Anthony, who in frustration with the people went to the river to preach to the fish, and they rose up to hear him.
St Anthony became ill with Ergotism & died on June 13 1231.