Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata (Gentile da Fabriano)

Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata, painted by Gentile da Fabriano, is a panel dating from approximately 1420. The painting depicts the pivotal event in the life of Saint Francis of Assisi when he miraculously received the stigmata – the wounds of Christ – on Mount La Verna.

Gentile da Fabriano, a leading artist of the International Gothic style, imbued the scene with his characteristic elegance and attention to detail. The painting typically portrays Saint Francis kneeling in prayer, often surrounded by rocky terrain, signifying the remote and spiritual location of Mount La Verna. The divine light emanating from a seraph, usually depicted as a winged figure bearing the image of the crucified Christ, transmits the stigmata to Saint Francis.

The wounds appear on Saint Francis's hands, feet, and side, mirroring the injuries Christ sustained during his crucifixion. The composition typically emphasizes the spiritual ecstasy and humility of Saint Francis as he receives this divine mark of identification with Christ.

The painting's significance lies not only in its artistic merit but also in its representation of a key event in Franciscan hagiography and the visualization of divine grace. The work reflects the religious fervor of the period and the growing devotion to Saint Francis as a symbol of piety and identification with Christ's suffering. Different interpretations of the subject, however, exist within the broader artistic tradition. Gentile da Fabriano's version is noted for its refined aesthetic and its contribution to the visual narrative of Saint Francis's life.