Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis: Receiving the Stigmata

Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis: Receiving the Stigmata

The scene of the stigmata was chosen as the most relevant episode in the life of the saint and painted in a large square above the entrance arch. The scene resumes that of Assisi, with some iconographic differences ( Friar Leone has disappeared ) and, above all, with a mastery of the composition and movement of the much more complex and mature protagonists. Francesco, to better understand the scene, has his torso completely rotated towards the viewer, including his hands, while his feet are spread apart as if to probe the surrounding space. The crucifix appears closer, with the golden rays that hit the saint from Christ's wounds, the landscape is more arid, with crevasses in the cliff, which represents the mountain of La Verna. High up, on the top of the mountain, there is a falcon.

Giotto di Bondone (c.1266-1337)

Cappella Bardi (Santa Croce (Florence, Italy))

c. 1320