Artwork
Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata
Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata is a drawing by the Renaissance artist Cosimo Tura. It dates from 1474 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cosmè Tura's Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata, executed in 1474, is a miniature on vellum depicting the moment the saint receives the wounds of Christ.
Cosmè Tura's Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata, executed in 1474, is a miniature on vellum depicting the moment the saint receives the wounds of Christ. The composition centers on Saint Francis kneeling in prayer against a dark, rocky landscape, his body angled to receive divine rays descending from the upper left. Tura renders the scene with the intense linear precision and metallic sheen characteristic of his Ferrarese style, utilizing fine, incised lines to define the saint's emaciated form and the intricate details of his habit.
The work captures a moment of profound spiritual intensity, with Francis's face contorted in an expression of ecstatic agony. Created during the height of Tura's mature period, this miniature exemplifies his ability to translate the dramatic, almost sculptural tension of his large-scale panel paintings into the intimate scale of manuscript illumination. The piece stands as a significant example of 15th-century Italian religious art, merging the mystical subject matter with the artist's distinctive, angular aesthetic.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures the moment of divine intervention when Saint Francis is marked with the wounds of Christ. The saint’s posture, head bowed and hands clasped, conveys intense devotion and spiritual surrender. The surrounding darkness emphasizes the miraculous nature of the event, while the radiant light suggests heavenly approval and the transmission of Christ’s suffering to the saint.
Technique & Style
Tura employed fine, precise lines and a restrained palette of delicate colors to render the miniature. The use of subtle gradations creates a soft atmospheric effect reminiscent of sfumato, allowing forms to emerge gently from the background. Despite its diminutive size, the drawing demonstrates meticulous attention to texture and facial expression, showcasing the artist’s skill in handling vellum as a delicate support.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Ferrarese painter Cosmè Tura, the work belongs to his later period, when he explored devotional subjects in intimate formats. The drawing has remained in private collections before entering a museum holding for its rarity as a small-scale religious work on vellum. Its dating to the mid‑1470s aligns with Tura’s known activity in the court of Ferrara, where he produced both large altarpieces and miniature studies.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cosmè Tura (Italian pronunciation:; c. 1430 – 1495), also known as Il Cosmè or Cosimo Tura, was an Italian early-Renaissance (or Quattrocento) painter and considered one of the founders of the School of Ferrara. He…
![Saint Francis [far left panel], by Cosimo Tura](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/cosimo-tura--saint-francis-far-left-panel--3b890eb4471ebc8a-w320.webp)
![The Virgin Annunciate [middle right panel], by Cosimo Tura](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/cosimo-tura--the-virgin-annunciate-middle-right-panel--9eeab22c5567995d-w320.webp)
![The Annunciation with Saint Francis and Saint Louis of Toulouse [four panels], by Cosimo Tura](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/cosimo-tura--the-annunciation-with-saint-francis-and-saint-louis-of-toulo--b6fe2fe99644e8d8-w320.webp)
![The Archangel Gabriel [middle left panel], by Cosimo Tura](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/cosimo-tura--the-archangel-gabriel-middle-left-panel--c900f72d54477be2-w320.webp)
