Jules Weyns (1849-1930)
Saint Franciscus
After Pedro de Mena (1628-1688)

Polychromed wood and plaster
Dated ca. 1887

In the last quarter of the 17th century the Grey Sisters order installed itself in the city of Antwerp.
The dedicated themselves to the aid of the sick and the victims of the Plague. In the 18th century they build their first convent. The actual complex, now used by the University of Antwerp, was erected in neogothical style in 1887 by Frans Braeckelmans (1827-1896). Above the entrance porch Jules Weyns cut a sculpture in stone of Saint Franciscus in ectasy after the polychrome wooden example of Pedro de Mena (1628-1688) in the Cathedral of Toledo. This is the wooden example he made before the stone version.