Artwork
Saint Francis of Assisi in the Portiuncula
Saint Francis of Assisi in the Portiuncula is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Antonio de Pereda. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These elements serve to underscore the themes of penitence, scriptural study, and the passion of Christ that defined Francis's spiritual life.
The painting depicts the appearance of Christ and the Virgin Mary to Saint Francis of Assisi within the Portiuncula chapel. As a work of religious art, the composition centers on this miraculous vision as its main subject. The iconography is further enriched by the inclusion of specific symbolic objects associated with the saint's devotion and mortality: a skull, a book, and a crucifix.
These elements serve to underscore the themes of penitence, scriptural study, and the passion of Christ that defined Francis's spiritual life.
Technique & Style
Antonio de Pereda executed Saint Francis of Assisi in the Portiuncula in 1664 using oil paint on canvas. The work measures 222 cm in height and 164 cm in width, presenting a substantial religious composition. Stylistically, the painting depicts the apparition of Christ and the Virgin Mary to Saint Francis within the Portiuncula chapel, accompanied by traditional memento mori symbols including a skull, a book, and a crucifix.
The piece is classified within the genre of religious art, reflecting the Counter-Reformation emphasis on spiritual vision and devotion characteristic of the artist's late period.
History & Provenance
Saint Francis of Assisi in the Portiuncula is an oil-on-canvas painting by Antonio de Pereda dated 1664. It is held at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it carries the inventory number P00968. No further details of its commission or earlier ownership are recorded in the available sources.
Context
Antonio de Pereda created Saint Francis of Assisi in the Portiuncula in 1664 as an oil painting on canvas, depicting the divine apparition within the chapel of Portiuncula. The work belongs to the religious art genre and is housed in the Museo del Prado. Scholarship situates Pereda within the Spanish Baroque tradition, noting his focus on devotional subjects that blend naturalistic detail with mystical narrative.
The painting's composition, featuring symbolic elements such as a skull, book, and crucifix, reinforces its theological themes and reflects Counter-Reformation emphases on personal sanctity. Its presence in a major institutional collection underscores its significance within 17th-century Iberian religious painting.
Overview
Antonio de Pereda, a Spanish painter active in the mid‑17th century, completed an oil painting titled Saint Francis of Assisi in the Portiuncula in 1664. The work belongs to the religious genre and is part of the Prado Museum’s collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio de Pereda y Salgado (c. 1611 – January 30, 1678) was a Spanish Baroque-era painter, best known for his still lifes.
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