Virgin Appearing to St Francis by Carnicero
The Apparition of the Virgin to Saint Francis of Assisi
Antonio Carnicero Mancio (1748–1814), 1788–1789. Oil on canvas, 216 × 273 cm. Part of the series “Life of Saint Francis,” originally intended for the cloister of San Francisco el Grande, Madrid. Currently on deposit at the Royal Basilica of San Francisco el Grande.
In this beautiful composition, Antonio Carnicero depicts Saint Francis of Assisi kneeling before an apparition of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. The Virgin appears elevated among the clouds, dressed in a deep blue mantle and holding the Child, who extends his arms toward the saint. Around them, small angels and cherubim emerge from the luminous atmosphere, while Francis, dressed in his familiar brown habit, reaches toward the heavenly vision with an expression of profound devotion. The contrast between the radiant apparition and the darker, wooded landscape below gives the scene a sense of wonder and spiritual intimacy. Yet the painting contains another important element: in the background, beyond the saint, we can see a group of friars gathered near a garden enclosed by a wooden fence. Continue reading after advertisement
The scene is associated with a Franciscan tradition concerning the Porziuncola, the little chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Assisi. According to this account, during an episode of intense penance, the blood shed by Francis caused rose bushes to grow where it had fallen. Their flowers were subsequently used to adorn the chapel, a place traditionally associated with the presence of angels and therefore known as Our Lady of the Angels. The roses thus become more than decorative details: they recall Francis's penitential devotion and the special affection he held for the Porziuncola, a place central to the beginnings of the Franciscan movement. Continue reading after advertisement
The painting belongs to a series illustrating episodes from the life of Saint Francis, commissioned for the cloister of the Franciscan church of San Francisco el Grande in Madrid. Carnicero's treatment combines the theatrical composition and luminous atmosphere of the late Baroque with a more restrained elegance characteristic of the late eighteenth century. Through the meeting of the heavenly vision, the kneeling saint, and the flowering roses, the artist brings together three important aspects of Franciscan spirituality: devotion to the Virgin Mary, the discipline of penance, and the deep attachment to the Porziuncola, the beloved little sanctuary that became one of the spiritual homes of the Franciscan family.
This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.
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