This striking mid-17th-century oil painting, attributed to the workshop of Gaspar de Figueroa (1594-1658), depicts Saint Francis Xavier, a Jesuit and the patron saint of missionaries.Clutching a crucifix and white lilies, to symbolise his faith and purity, he stands before a collection of figures to represent his achievements. On the left, we see a baptism, while on the right, a woman is being raised from the dead. It''s plausible that these are scenes from his own life.Saint Francis Xavier worked during the 16th century and co-founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). He travelled throughout Asia in an effort to convert the local populace to Christianity. Around 30,000 people were baptised and, as such, he’s often referred to as the ''Apostle of the Far East''. Various accounts cite his miracles, including healing the sick and bringing the deceased back to life. One such account explains how he resurrected a drowned boy, while another describes how he revived a fellow mi...