Polish painter

BLESSED BRONISŁAWA, early 19th century
Oil on canvas; 72 x 56 cm
Blessed Bronisława (c. 1200–1259) was a Polish nun of the Norbertine Order, associated with the convent in Zwierzyniec, Kraków. She came from the powerful Odrowąż family and was a relative of St. Hyacinth and Blessed Czesław. Around the age of 16, she entered the Norbertine convent in Zwierzyniec, where she eventually became the prioress.
According to tradition, during the Mongol invasion of 1241, she left the convent along with other nuns and took refuge on Sikornik Hill. There, she is said to have had a vision of Christ suffering on the cross, who said to her: “Bronisława, my cross is your cross.” After returning to the convent, she led a life of prayer, penance, and service to the poor.
She died in 1259. Her veneration grew in Kraków over the following centuries. In 1839, Pope Gregory XVI approved her veneration as a blessed. She is particularly venerated in Kraków, and her liturgical memorial is celebrated on September 1. Her most common attribute is the cross; she is also sometimes depicted wearing a Norbertine habit.
Starting price: 1,000
Estimated value: 1,200–1,400. Inquire about this item