Saint Francis of Assisi in prayer

He was a student of Francisco Rizzi, who painted in Madrid in the late baroque style.

This baroque work was commissioned by the Franciscan Order, as the figure is wearing the habit of that branch of the order. The order’s founder is depicted.

The painter depicts him inside the cave on Mount Alverno, shown from the waist up with his hands crossed over his chest, gazing in ecstasy at the image of the Crucifixion, set upon a stone. The open book and the quill refer to the rule of the Franciscan Order, while the skull symbolizes penance and asceticism, practices observed by the saint.

The work stands out for its luminosity and artistic quality, particularly in the details of the saint’s clothing. It incorporates the use of impasto and abundant smudging to recreate the patches on the saint’s habit.