Artwork

Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi, by Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina, oil, 1515
Saint Francis of Assisi, by Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina, oil, 1515

Saint Francis of Assisi is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

These objects serve as key symbols, representing Francis's engagement with scripture and his profound connection to the Passion of Christ.

The painting depicts Saint Francis of Assisi as the central figure within a religious context. The iconography includes specific attributes associated with the saint's life and devotion: a book and a crucifix. These objects serve as key symbols, representing Francis's engagement with scripture and his profound connection to the Passion of Christ. The work functions as a religious image intended to visualize the saint's spiritual focus and sanctity.

Technique & Style

Created by Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina, the work is an oil painting executed on a panel support. The piece measures 69.6 cm in height and 30.3 cm in width. Stylistically, it belongs to the religious art genre and depicts Saint Francis of Assisi alongside a book and a crucifix. The formal composition focuses on the main subject within these specific dimensions.

History & Provenance

The work was painted in 1515 by Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina, as recorded in the artist’s dated inscription on the panel. The painting depicts Saint Francis of Assisi holding a crucifix and a book, aligning with the religious genre and iconography commonly associated with Franciscan devotion. It has been part of the holdings of the Museo del Prado in Madrid since at least the mid-twentieth century, where it remains in the permanent collection.

Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina's painting Saint Francis of Assisi is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The work, created between 1515 and 1520, is cataloged within the museum's inventory as an oil-on-panel religious artwork. Specific accession or inventory numbers are not provided in the available sources.

The painting depicts the saint alongside a book and a crucifix. No exhibition history is recorded in the provided documentation.

Overview

Created in 1515 by Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina, this oil painting presents Saint Francis of Assisi in a contemplative pose. The work is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection in Madrid and exemplifies early 16th‑century Spanish religious art.

Context

The painting reflects the broader diffusion of Italian High Renaissance aesthetics into Spanish art during the early 1500s. Religious subjects, especially saints, were common commissions, and the work’s sober palette aligns with contemporary devotional imagery.

Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi, Antoniazzo Romano

Artist & collection

Portrait of Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina

Artist

Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina

Fernando (or Hernando) Yáñez de la Almedina, born in Almedina, Spain in c. 1475 and died in Valencia, Kingdom of Spain in 1536, was a Spanish painter. He was one of the most important early Renaissance painters in…

Museo del Prado

Museum

Museo del Prado

Continue through works from the same source collection.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museo del Prado open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Saint Francis of Assisi?

Saint Francis of Assisi was painted by Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina in 1515-01-01.

Where can I see Saint Francis of Assisi?

Saint Francis of Assisi is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Saint Francis of Assisi?

Saint Francis of Assisi is associated with High Renaissance.