Saint Francis in prayer Lombard school
Saint Francis in prayer, by an unknown author from Lombard school (1600 - 1629)
This intimate depiction of Saint Francis in Prayer, by an unknown artist of the Lombard School, captures the saint in a quiet moment of devotion. The composition is set at night, suggesting a personal, contemplative encounter with God. Saint Francis is shown in profile, with a delicate halo whose angled placement offers a subtle departure from traditional frontal depictions. The saint’s hands are clasped in prayer, fingers intertwined, and the wounds of the Stigmata are already visible on the front of his hands, hinting at the mystical event he is about to experience. Despite the profound spiritual context, Francis’s expression is calm and peaceful rather than ecstatic, highlighting the artist’s skill in rendering humanized, naturalistic spirituality.
True to the principles of the Lombard School, the work emphasizes naturalism and careful observation. The saint is situated against a modest background of greenery and rocks, rendered with a careful attention to light, shadow, and texture that grounds the scene in reality. The folds of Francis’s brown habit are painted with meticulous detail, the fine threads and subtle highlights reflecting extraordinary technical skill and dedication to realistic depiction. The night setting, together with the serene figure of the saint, conveys a sense of intimate solitude and contemplation, emphasizing Francis’s connection to God in the quiet of the natural world.
The Lombard School style, known for portraying ordinary scenes and figures with dignity and realism, is evident in this work’s treatment of landscape, naturalistic details, and subtle emotional expression. By presenting Francis in a side-profile and moment of personal prayer, the painting offers a uniquely original interpretation, combining devotional reverence with a sense of immediacy and human presence. The work is currently housed at Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire, England, allowing viewers to encounter both the saint’s humility and the artist’s refined technical mastery.
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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