Artwork
The Death of Saint Francis (La mort de St. Francois)
The Death of Saint Francis (La mort de St. Francois) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alphonse Legros. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Alphonse Legros produced the print The Death of Saint Francis in 1874, employing both etching and dry‑point methods. The work presents a mournful gathering of cloaked figures surrounding a lifeless body, presumed to be the 13th‑century saint, set against a muted, indistinct landscape of trees.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the final moments of Saint Francis of Assisi, emphasizing themes of devotion and loss. The men’s varied gestures, prayer, clasped hands, and a held book, suggest contemplation of the saint’s spiritual legacy and the communal sorrow of his passing.
Technique & Style
Legros combines the fine lines of dry‑point with the broader tonal ranges of etching, creating textured surfaces that give depth to the figures and background. The stark contrast between the dark, heavy robes and the lighter, hazy foliage heightens the scene’s dramatic tension.
History & Provenance
Born in France and naturalised as a British citizen after settling in London in 1863, Legros was a versatile artist active in painting, sculpture, and printmaking. By the 1870s he was instrumental in revitalising British etching through his teaching, and this print reflects his engagement with religious subjects during that period.
Context
The work aligns with Romantic sensibilities prevalent in the mid‑19th century, where emotional intensity and the sublime were often expressed through historical and spiritual narratives. Legros’s choice of a saint’s death scene resonates with the era’s fascination with piety and melancholy.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation:; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
