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Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata

Cosmè Tura

1474

vellum

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious Francis of Assisi

Dominant colour

Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata is a 1474 by Cosmè Tura, a Renaissance work, depicting Francis of Assisi, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Cosmè Tura
When & what style?: 1474 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows Saint Francis kneeling in prayer, with rays of light coming from above. He's surrounded by a dark landscape. The painting is very detailed and small, made on vellum. Saint Francis is a key figure in the scene, with a strong emotional expression. The artist used fine lines and delicate colors to create this scene. The level of detail is impressive, given the small size of the work. To learn more about similar uses of light and shadow, look up the technique: sfumato.