Description
Saint René Goupil, surgeon and martyr
Saint René Goupil (1608-1642) was a French surgeon who traveled to New France in 1640 to assist the Jesuit missions and care for the sick. Captured while accompanying Isaac Jogues in 1642, he made vows as a Jesuit brother during captivity. He was killed on September 29 that year and canonized with the North American Martyrs in 1930.
The inscription identifies René Goupil. He faces the viewer with a halo, holding a cross and a book alongside medical instruments. The cross recalls his Christian witness, while the instruments refer to his work as a surgeon. Although the artist gives him clerical-looking clothing, Goupil was a religious brother, not an ordained priest.
Made in Poland on linden wood
Art Christiana makes this icon to order on a linden-wood board with two coats of primer. The image is printed directly onto the prepared surface and finished with decorative gold-tone metal leaf (schlagmetal). A certificate bearing the production year and a hanging fixture are attached to the back.
This icon can accompany prayer for healthcare workers and reflection on service to the sick. It is also relevant to someone learning about the North American Martyrs or choosing René as a Confirmation patron.