Clare of Assisi Her Life, as depicted on the Tavola

Sister Francisca University of Nottingham

How did she break the mould?

Tavola (panel) or Dossal (altar piece) of St Clare; executed in1281/5 by the Master of Assisi. Now in the basilica of Santa Chiara, Assisi

Let us look at it more closely to see what the surrounding pictures tell us about the real Clare

Clare is too shy to go up with the others to receive her palm at Mass in the Cathedral in Assisi on Palm Sunday 1212, so Bishop Guido goes down to her to give the palm to Clare. Is this a sign that he approves of her plan?

Clare runs away from her home in the middle of the night, through the Door of the Dead, and goes to join Francis and the friars at the chapel of the Portiuncula.

The brothers are waiting with candles and torches The brothers are waiting with candles and torches. Francis cuts Clare’s hair and clothes her with the habit and cord of the brothers. Now she is dedicated to Lady Poverty.

Francis takes her to the Benedictine monastery of San Paolo Francis takes her to the Benedictine monastery of San Paolo. The next day her uncles come to drag her back home, but she clings to the altar and claims the right of sanctuary

Her sister, Catherine, runs away to join Clare and the uncles come in pursuit. At Clare’s prayers she becomes too heavy for them to carry and they leave her half dead. Then she makes her vows into Clare’s hands and Francis cuts her hair.

The sisters are short of food; there is only one loaf The sisters are short of food; there is only one loaf. Clare says half of it has to be given to the brothers and the other half divided up between fifty sisters. When the sister in charge of the bread does this (having complained first!), there is enough to go round.

Clare is on her death bed in the dormitory at SanDamiano Clare is on her death bed in the dormitory at SanDamiano. The sisters see a procession of saints come in, with one more resplendent and beautiful then all the others, wearing a wonderful crown. They gently place a veil over Clare. The next day Clare dies.

The Pope himself comes to officiate at Clare’s funeral The Pope himself comes to officiate at Clare’s funeral. He insists on saying the Office of Virgin Saints rather than the Office of the Dead.

This is Clare as she is traditionally portrayed – a miracle worker, the saviour of her city.

This is the “myth” of Clare that we have created; the Clare of a million holy pictures and statues – doing what Clare never did – holding a monstrance ...

But this is Clare as her near contemporaries saw her - the founder of an Order, but not holding a monastery; an abbess, but not holding a copy of the Rule; a virgin saint, but not holding a lily ....

This is the ‘everyday’ Clare, the Clare who washed feet, cleaned toilets, cared for the sick

This is Clare who gave a new model of leadership as community servant to the church

This is the Clare who broke the mould ...

...to let the light of Christ shine out

The Santa Chiara Dossal at Assisi was the first thirteenth-century painting dedicated to a female monastic; its depiction of Clare as an active and determined woman stands in marked contrast to images of humble and submissive brides of Christ. 

The End