Description
The painting St Francis Receiving the Stigmata by Vicente Carducho is a masterpiece of Spanish Baroque art. The painting, with an original size of 131 x 97 cm, represents Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata of Christ on his hands and feet.
Carducho uses a realistic and detailed artistic style to depict the figure of Saint Francis, who appears in the center of the composition, surrounded by a naturalistic landscape. The figure of the saint is represented with great expressiveness and emotion, which conveys the deep devotion and suffering he experienced when receiving the stigmata.
The composition of the painting is very balanced, with a careful arrangement of figures and landscape elements. Light and color are also key elements in the work, with a palette of warm and luminous colors that reflect the spirituality and joy of Saint Francis.
The history of the painting is interesting, as it was commissioned by the Order of the Discalced Franciscans of Madrid in the 17th century. The work was exhibited in the Church of San Francisco el Grande in Madrid for many years, until it was transferred to the Pinacoteca del Museo del Prado in 1828.
One of the lesser known aspects of the painting is that Carducho used his own face as a model to represent Saint Francis. Furthermore, the work was highly influential on Spanish religious painting of the time, and had a great impact on the iconography of Saint Francis of Assisi in later art.
In summary, the painting St Francis Receiving the Stigmata by Vicente Carducho is a masterpiece of Spanish Baroque art, noted for its realistic and detailed artistic style, its balanced composition, its palette of warm and luminous colors, and its profound spirituality. In addition, its history and its lesser-known aspects make it a fascinating work for art lovers.