Artwork
Traslación de San Francisco de Asís
Traslación de San Francisco de Asís is an oil painting by Benet Mercadé. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a religious genre painting from 1866, it reflects 19th-century Spanish interest in historic ecclesiastical ceremonies and the cult of saints.
The painting depicts the translation (traslación) of Francis of Assisi, showing the transfer of his relics or a sculpture of the saint. The work represents a religious narrative centered on Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan order and one of the most venerated saints in Catholic tradition. The inclusion of a sculpture within the composition suggests a meta-iconographic dimension, possibly depicting the ceremonial movement of a sacred image or the saint's bodily remains.
As a religious genre painting from 1866, it reflects 19th-century Spanish interest in historic ecclesiastical ceremonies and the cult of saints.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas in 1866, the work measures 306 cm in height and 446 cm in width.
The painting shows a fluid handling of oil paint, with blended transitions and softly modeled figures that convey the narrative of Saint Francis’s translation while maintaining a restrained realism. Compositionally, the scene is organized around a central group of robed figures carrying the saint’s bier, framed by architectural elements and atmospheric lighting that guide the viewer’s eye through the pictorial space. The palette relies on earthy tones and subdued contrasts, reinforcing the solemnity of the religious subject.
No conservation issues are recorded in the provided sources.
History & Provenance
The Traslación de San Francisco de Asís was painted in 1866 by Benet Mercadé.
The work entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains housed. Its dimensions are 306 cm in height and 446 cm in width.
Overview
Traslación de San Francisco de Asís is a religious oil painting created by Catalan artist Benet Mercadé in 1866, now part of the Museo del Prado's collection.
Context
While the exact context of the painting's creation is not provided, its subject matter aligns with Mercadé's interest in religious and historical themes, common in 19th-century Catalan art.
Legacy
Information on the painting's direct influence or reception is not provided, though its inclusion in the Museo del Prado suggests recognition of its cultural or artistic value.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Benet Mercadé i Fàbrega, in Spanish: Benito Mercadé y Fábregas (1821 – 10 December 1897) was a Catalan painter of portraits and historical scenes.
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