St. Francis with beard and halo, kneeling with PL knee on a flat rock, arms outstretched, wearing a patched robe; tiny crucified Christ on X-shaped cross in URC, with dotted lines extending from Christ's nail wounds to Francis' hands and feet; detailed landscape with buildings, trees and road; reading seated figure behind Francis in middle ground

Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata, 1593

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Francis is one of the most prominent saints of the Catholic Church. He lived 800 years ago and founded orders of monks, nuns, laypersons, and a separate one devoted to the protection of holy sites. Born to a rich family, he renounced wealth for a life of poverty and fasted in the wilderness for extended periods. Procaccini shows us the most famous moment of Francis’s life, as related by Brother Leo, whom we see reading just beyond the trees. After 40 days of fasting and prayer on a mountaintop, "Suddenly [Francis] saw a vision of a seraph, a six-winged angel on a cross. This angel gave him the gift of the five wounds of Christ" in the form of nail holes in his hands and feet, and a gash in his side. Procaccini’s dense network of nervous lines perfectly captures the emotional intensity of the mystical event.

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Details
Title
Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata
Artist Life
Italian (Bologna), c. 1555-1629
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2012.92.4
Provenance
William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire (d. 1729), Chatsworth (cf. Lugt 718-719) by descent to Andrew Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth (until 1985); Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement; sale, Christie's, London, December 5, 1985, no. 130, for £5,940, to Colnaghi; [Colnaghi, London, 1985-at least 1986]. private collection. [Adrian Eeles, London; in 2011]; [C.G. Boerner, New York; 2012; sold to MIA]
Catalogue Raisonne
Bartsch XVIII.21.5
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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St. Francis with beard and halo, kneeling with PL knee on a flat rock, arms outstretched, wearing a patched robe; tiny crucified Christ on X-shaped cross in URC, with dotted lines extending from Christ's nail wounds to Francis' hands and feet; detailed landscape with buildings, trees and road; reading seated figure behind Francis in middle ground