Saint Elizabeth was born in 1207, the daughter of Andreas II, King of Hungary; her crown alludes to her royal birth. Many legends about her generosity and work on behalf of the poor were circulated in the Middle Ages, among them the subject of this sculpture: food she was carrying to the poor was miraculously changed to roses to avoid discovery by her husband. Much of the original paint and gilding is preserved on this sculpture except the face, which had been stripped and repainted in heavy oils prior to its acquisition by the museum. This modern paint has been removed.