The Ecstasy of Saint Francis
1601
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1601
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
The painting shows Saint Francis swooning in ecstasy into the arms of an angel. He's surrounded by angels and symbols of Jesus' torture. The angel on the left presents these symbols, which seems to have triggered Francis' emotional response. The painting's use of dramatic lighting is interesting - it creates a sense of intensity. This lighting style was influenced by other artists of the time. You can learn more about this style by looking into the technique: chiaroscuro.
