Leon Bazilijus Sapiega, maecenas of the painting "St. Bruno. Miracle in the Church" in Vilnius’s St. Francis of Assisi (Bernadine) Church

Restoration work on the painting of “St. Bruno. Miracle in the Church” (1674) from Vilnius’s St. Francis of Assisi (Bernadine) Church is still in progress at Pranas Gudynas Museum Restoration Center at the National Art Museum of Lithuania. (Efforts began back in 2004.) Within this article, the author provides a few generalizations and facts that should help inform readers of the painting’s restoration. The painting is thought to have been created around the time of St. Bruno’s canonization (1674) and is connected to the so-called “ceremonial decoration,” which were created when a saint was newly canonized or paintings were crowned. The painting depicts events from the year 1080 - its idea can be felt through the rather clear anti-Protestant mood of the painting. This painting has a separate, indiscernible figure in its right corner: in fact, it is the only figure in the entire painting that looks directly at the viewer. The same person is depicted in the central part of the painting as well: a man, dressed in the clothes common during the reign of Louis XIV, stands alongside two priests who are discussing the miracle which has occurred in the church. From the way in which he is dressed, it is thought that the person depicted has traveled throughout Europe - and most likely visited Paris. When looking at the person’s manners, it is possible to state that he is painted quite naturally and is the Maecenas of this painting. St. Bruno is depicted together with the Maecenas of this painting. All information available allows us to ascribe the person to a relative of the Sapiehas [Sapiegas] who had both a connection to the Carthusian Order and to Vilnius’s Bernadine Church (which had been made possible by beneficiaries and patrons): the most important center of St. Bruno’s cult was the Carthusian monastery in Bereza (today, found in Belarus) established by the Deputy Chancellor Kazimierz Leon Sapieha [Kazimieras Leonas Sapiega] (1609-1656). It is therefore possible to assume that the person portrayed in the painting, “St. Bruno. Miracle in the Church” is the famous Lithuanian noblemen, Leon Bazyli Sapieha [Leonas Bazilijus Sapiega] (1652-1686), who had traveled for several years throughout Europe and had been to Paris. The author of the article emphasizes that although the supporting information identifies the person depicted, conclusions drawn are not final and are, therefore, debatable