News & events
2025, Monday 2 June - St. Anthony the Abbot to protect animals
ASCIANO - Found in a stable in Camparboli
In the farmhouse in Camparboli where the Madonna of Loreto published yesterday was found, there was another religious effigy found in the animal stable.
As can be seen from the photo, it is the depiction of St. Anthony the Abbot, notoriously considered the protector of animals. This glazed bas-relief is also not particularly valuable from an artistic point of view, but it bears witness to the local custom of showing veneration for the saint in the peasant world of the past.
Clear traces of his veneration have emerged repeatedly in our community.
In the churches of St. Augustine and St. Lawrence in San Francesco there are two altars dedicated to the Saint accompanied by valuable wooden statues, now preserved in the Casa Corboli Museum.
Furthermore, the celebrations of the blessing of animals and crops are documented by some photos in our possession, viewable from the links below:
1946, January 17 - Blessing of animals and crops - Asciano
1946, January 17 - Sheep led to the blessing of Saint Anthony - Asciano
1946?, January 17 - Blessing of Chianina calves - Siena
Returning to our ceramic effigy, it should be emphasized that, based on testimonies of people still alive, these artistic artifacts were very widespread in our countryside, but now it is difficult to find them still in their place.
It is easier to find them in antique shops; they can be purchased at a high price.