Saint Francis by Philip Fruytiers 1640

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This Baroque painting was created by Philip Fruytiers, a Jesuit painter known especially for his refined miniatures and small-scale devotional works. His deep personal devotion to Saint Francis is evident in the gentle expression of the saint, who appears lifted into a moment of spiritual joy. Francis raises his gaze toward the open sky, where a group of angels praise God in song. The saint bears the wounds of Christ on his hands, feet, and side, marking this scene as one of mystical union with the Passion.

The rocky ground and sparse landscape identify the setting as Mount Alverna, the site of Francis’s retreat and spiritual transformation. Fruytiers works with soft, warm light that touches the folds of the brown habit and the skin of Francis’s uplifted face, conveying peace rather than dramatic ecstasy. The angels are rendered with delicacy, as if gently descending in quiet adoration. The composition as a whole reflects the intimate, interior character of Franciscan mysticism: faith experienced as tender communion rather than overwhelming vision.

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