Saints Francis and Elizabeth by Giovanni Antonio Sogliani
Double Portrait of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Giovanni Antonio Sogliani, ca. 1520–1525
This double devotional portrait, attributed to Giovanni Antonio Sogliani and dated around 1520–1525, is housed today in the Museo di San Marco in Florence. Sogliani (1492–1544) was an Italian Renaissance painter whose career was deeply tied to the artistic environment of Florence. His early training included connections to Fra Bartolomeo’s workshop, and throughout his career he completed numerous commissions for religious institutions in Tuscany and beyond. His style is known for its serene clarity, gentle expressions, and careful devotional sentiment, qualities reflected beautifully in this work.
The painting portrays Saint Francis of Assisi on the left, standing with quiet dignity. He holds the Holy Scriptures in one hand, supported against his knee, while in the other hand he lifts a tall crucifix. One of his fingers gently indicates the tear in his coarse brown habit, revealing the stigmata on his hand, a sign of his mystical union with Christ.
On the right stands Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, shown in humble attire rather than regal dress. She wears a simple mantle made of fabric similar to Saint Francis’s robe, emphasizing her embrace of poverty and service. Elizabeth gathers a small bundle of colorful flowers in the fold of her garment, recalling the traditional legend in which bread meant for the poor miraculously transformed into roses. Her golden crown lies at the bottom edge of her niche, not on her head; placed so near the edge of the frame that it seems almost at risk of falling, the crown symbolizes her voluntary renunciation of earthly privilege.
Sogliani’s broader career included notable works such as the Martyrdom of Saint Acacius (1521), the Miraculous Meal of Saint Dominic (1536) in the convent of San Marco, and the Saint Bridget of Sweden Confirming her Rule (1522), also now in the Museo di San Marco. He later participated in major commissions in Pisa, completing works originally intended for Andrea del Sarto and Perino del Vaga, and his celebrated Allegory of the Immaculate Conception remains among his most esteemed works. This double portrait stands as a sensitive demonstration of his capacity to communicate sanctity through gentle gesture, balanced composition, and the expressive dignity of simplicity.
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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