San Damiano by Vincent Caranchini
Vincent Caranchini is a contemporary American artist and educator whose work explores pilgrimage, sacred space, architecture, and the spiritual legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi. He earned a BFA at the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA in Art Theory & Practice at Northwestern University, and later served as Associate Professor of Art + Design at Northern Arizona University. His artistic practice blends studio work, travel, sketching, and spiritual reflection.
Caranchini’s interest in Franciscan sites and pilgrimage stories comes through strongly in his work. He describes his travels to Italy, Turkey, Mexico and other locales as part of a broader exploration of sacred architecture and the patterns of devotion that shape human experience. Many of his drawings, watercolours and ink sketches function as both creative experiment and visual journaling of these journeys.
This series of works from 2015 by Caranchini focuses on the sacred site of the Church of San Damiano in Assisi, Italy—the place where Saint Francis heard the call of the Crucifix to “rebuild my Church.” The first, larger illustration presents the interior of San Damiano with its Romanesque arches, the iconic crucifix, and atmospheric light filtering in from an unseen window. Caranchini employs a subdued palette and clear architectural lines to evoke both the age‑worn stone and the spiritual stillness of the place. Continue reading after advertisement
Accompanying this main illustration is a set of five sketches, also dated 2015, which capture details and variations of the site: the exterior façade, the apsidal end, close‑ups of architectural decorative details, and schematic plans of the interior space. These works demonstrate Caranchini’s process of observation and study—rendering sacred architecture not only as subject but as companion in the journey of faith and creative reflection.
Caranchini’s technique is precise and contemplative: line, colour washes, and minimal but evocative shading create an intimate sense of place. The crucifix at San Damiano appears as a subtle focal point, not overtly dramatic, but held in quiet reverence by the surrounding architectural space. By placing the viewer within the visual “breath” of the building—pews, arches, minor details—Caranchini invites contemplation of how physical sacred space frames spiritual encounter.
Caranchini’s “San Damiano” series exemplifies a modern continuation of Franciscan visual spirituality: architecture, narrative, pilgrimage. The choice of San Damiano is rich with Franciscan meaning (the rebuilding of the Church, Francis’s conversion, Clare’s later role) and Caranchini handles it with humility, depth and clarity. This work bridges past and present: ancient stone meets digital‑age commission; physical pilgrimage meets reflective artistry.
By 2015, Caranchini had already established himself as an artist‑educator interested in sacred geometry, pattern, and drawing as spiritual practice. This project continues and deepens that trajectory: the sacred site isn’t simply illustrated—it is entered, studied, lived. The result is a body of work that will appeal both to enthusiasts of Franciscan heritage and to contemporary viewers interested in the intersection of travel, architecture, faith and art.
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