17th century, Emilian school, Saint Francis in prayer

17th century, Emilian school
San Francesco in prayer
Oil on canvas, 92 x 96.5 cm - with frame 99 x 104 cm

The work in question depicts Saint Francis of Assisi with his hands joined in prayer before the crucified Christ. The scene, set on Monte della Verna, refers to the episode of the Stigmata, as is clearly evident from the marks left on the back of the saint's hands and from the presence of the attribute of the skull. St. Francis received the visit of God while he was absorbed in prayer: Christ appeared to him on the cross and at that apparition the Saint felt full of infinite admiration, but he could not understand its meaning, invaded by infinite joy and joy, but at the same time terrified to see Christ crucified gripped by pain. As he tried to understand the meaning of that vision, the same nail marks he had seen in the hands of Christ began to appear in his hands and feet. The figure of the Saint is that of a mature man, both demographic and moral, conscious and involved in the sufferings of Christ, with the marked features of the face and the shadows to plow the features.