St. David
Saint David was a Welsh bishop of Mynyw during the 6th century, and patron saint of Wales
St David has been the patron saint of Wales since the 12th Century, at a time when there were more than 60 churches in Wales dedicated to him.
His best-known miracle is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi: the village of Llanddewi Brefi stands on the spot where the ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill. A white dove, which became his emblem, was seen settling on his shoulder.
St. David is typically depicted as an older man - greyed hair and long beard. I wanted to show David as a younger man - hair slightly greying, and beard full but short.Seeing the patron Saint as a younger man makes him seem more real, and less of a mythical figure - he was real after all!
Detail was especially important to me in this piece - ornate cloaks and lace trims are draped over David, as he props up a staff carved with markings and symbols. to contrast the ornate and intricate clothing of St Davis, perched on his shoulder is a simple dove - a symbol of peace, and always associated with St David.
