Francesco e Chiara dine by Viladomat 1733
Saint Francis and Saint Clare dine in Saint Damiano, by Antoni Viladomat y Manalt.
Oil on Canvas, 1724-33. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcellona.
Among his most significant works is a series of about twenty large‑scale paintings devoted to the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, originally produced in Barcelona in the 1720s and now housed in the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC). The present painting belongs to that cycle: it is dated approximately 1729–1733
Viladomat’s work is marked by a serious study of natural detail, strong but controlled chiaroscuro, and a restrained expressive quality that departs from the more theatrical excesses of some Baroque painting.
He stands as a major figure in Catalan art history and one of the principal painters of the early 18th century in the region.
Description & Significance. In Saint Francis and Saint Clare dine in Saint Damiano the viewer witnesses a intimate scene of communal devotion set in the refectory of the Convent of San Damiano near Assisi. The two saints—Saint Francis and Saint Clare—are seated together at a round table laid with bread, simple dishes, and a central loaf, suggesting humble sustenance. Surrounding them are friars and nuns whose attentive presence emphasizes the communal and Franciscan character of the moment. A subtle glow pervades the space, illuminating the faces of the principal figures and creating a calm yet spiritually charged atmosphere.
Of particular interest is Viladomat’s treatment of objects and gesture: the food and tableware are rendered with precise realism, while the expressions and glances of the characters convey a gentle and sincere religious feeling. According to MNAC’s commentary, behind the table in the right portion of the composition figures from the village rush to address an illusion of flame emerging from the convent—an allusion to miraculous grace descending upon the meal.
Museu del Barroc de Catalunya. This painting not only illustrates a key moment in Franciscan legend—emphasizing hospitality, simplicity, communal piety—but also showcases Viladomat’s mature style: grounded realism, subtle drama, and contemplative movement rather than dynamic spectacle.
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