“Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata”
Today we have a wondrous Gothic style piece of art…
“Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata” is a tempera on wood panel painting. It was made by an unknown Italian Gothic artist known to art historians as Master of the Bardi Saint Francis. This piece dates to circa 1250.
The unknown artist painted this scene from the life of Saint Francis in the Byzantine style of art, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire style. This style mostly depicted religious scenes in impersonal ways, adhering strictly to the controlled vision of the church’s theology. This Franciscan diptych was portable.
In this painting, Saint Francis is on his knees looking up at the heavens. He had been praying during a 40 day fast which put him in an elevated state. In his state of ecstasy, a seraph, or angel of the cross, bestowed stigmata markings upon his hands and feet. It was said that he received these markings in 1224. The wounds and a second bacterial infection led to his death, just two years later. This is one of the earliest known pieces of art depicting Saint Francis of Assisi. He was canonized as a saint in 1228 just about 22 years prior.
“Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata” is currently on display at the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence, Italy.
For more on Master of the Bardi Saint Francis, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
