St Francis with angels by Carracci

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Scene in the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi – Attributed to Ludovico Carracci
Oil on canvas, late 16th – early 17th century

This delicate painting depicts a humble episode in the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. The saint, clad in his traditional brown sayal, kneels before two angels in an intimate devotional setting. One angel presents him with a cup, while the other bows gracefully, offering a chasuble—an emblem of priestly ordination. In his profound humility, Francis appears to resist the honor, reflecting his belief that he is unworthy of ecclesiastical exaltation.

The composition captures the tension between earthly recognition and spiritual obedience. Ultimately, in a gesture of submission to divine will, Francis accepted diaconal ordination, exemplifying his lifelong balance between personal humility and faithful obedience.

Carracci’s rendering is notable for its tender attention to gesture and expression. The angels are presented with elegance and lightness, emphasizing the saint’s internal contemplation over external ceremony. Though this scene is less widely known than Carracci’s other works, it demonstrates his mastery of intimate religious narrative, where human emotion and divine encounter converge.