| Saint Elizabeth of Hungary's Great Act of Renunciation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Philip Hermogenes Calderon |
| Year | 1891 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 153 cm× 213.4 cm(60 in× 84.0 in) |
| Location | Tate Britain, London |
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary's Great Act of Renunciation is an 1891 religious history painting by the British artist Philip Hermogenes Calderon. It depicts Catholic saint Elizabeth of Hungary. The widow of Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia, who had died while departing for the Sixth Crusade, she entered a convent after his death. Calderon was inspired by the 1848 play The Saint's Tragedy by Charles Kingsley. He shows Elizabeth, having renounced all worldly possessions, kneeling naked in prayer. A group of nuns and monks are shown behind her. [1]
Calderon was born in France and initially followed the Pre-Raphaelite style. This work was produced towards the end of his career. The picture was displayed at the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1892 at Burlington House in London. Some Catholic groups objected to its portrayal of a venerated Catholic figure and unsuccessfully attempted to have it withdrawn from the exhibition. [2] Today it is in the collection of the Tate Britain, having been acquired through the Chantrey Bequest. [3]
