Saint Francis by Bernardo Strozzi 1610
Saint Francis Reading the Scriptures, Bernardo Strozzi, 1610
Bernardo Strozzi (1581–1644), known as il Cappuccino for his early life as a Capuchin friar, was a formative figure of the Italian Baroque. Working primarily in Genoa before later moving to Venice, Strozzi became known for his warm palette, dramatic chiaroscuro, and expressive handling of religious subjects. Around 1610, during his period of producing intimate devotional images, he created this striking depiction of Saint Francis of Assisi engaged in intense spiritual contemplation.
In this painting, Saint Francis is shown embracing a crucifix with his right arm while simultaneously searching through the pages of the Holy Scriptures with his left hand. His gesture suggests urgency, as if he is seeking clarity or divine answer to a spiritual struggle weighing upon his heart. The rosary he holds, made of luminous white pearls and ending in a gold crucifix, reinforces the depth of his devotion. The book rests upon a skull, a symbolic reminder of mortality and the Christian meditation on the transience of earthly life.
Saint Francis wears the coarse, simple habit of the Franciscan order, rendered here in rough, textured brushwork that conveys both humility and austerity. The composition, likely intended to inspire meditation, speaks to Francis’ well-recorded practice of turning to Scripture during moments of doubt or spiritual trial. The emotional tension between his embrace of the cross and the earnest turning of the pages invites the viewer to contemplate the relationship between suffering, devotion, and divine truth.
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.
Comments
Post a Comment