Colorful painting, black and golden frame. A young native women, with green clothes, her belt with a golden medal, welcomed by Joseph, Mary and child Jesus dressed in white. Background: Red curtain at the right.
«La Sainte Famille à la Huronne». Claude François, known as Frère Luc (1614-1685).
Oil on canvas. Approx. 1671

The Holy Family Welcoming the Huron Girl

The Holy Family Welcoming the Huron Girl

This work by the Recollect Claude François depicts the calling of the first Ursulines of Quebec: the education and evangelization of young Native American women. In this painting, we see a young Native American woman kneeling before the Holy Family. The Child Jesus blesses her and welcomes her into the great Christian family, as the Ursulines did upon their arrival in New France. Notice that the Huron girl wears a medal on her belt. This is a sign that the young girl had converted to Christianity.