1594
oil
From the collection of Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Dominant colour
Saint Francis in Ecstasy is a 1594 oil by El Greco, a Mannerism work, depicting Francis of Assisi, held at Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
The painting depicts a man in a hooded robe, his hands clasped together in front of him. His face is tilted upwards, and his eyes are closed, conveying a sense of deep contemplation. The background is dark, with a subtle hint of a landscape visible behind the figure. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a dramatic contrast between light and dark, drawing the viewer's attention to the subject's face and hands. The brushstrokes are bold and expressive, adding a sense of energy and emotion to the painting. The figure's introspective pose and the artist's masterful use of light and shadow invite the viewer to contemplate the subject's inner world. Next, explore the works of the artist: El Greco.
Doménikos Theotokópoulos was born in 1541 in Candia (modern Heraklion), the capital of Venetian-ruled Crete, where he was trained in the post-Byzantine tradition of icon painting.
See the richer artist page
