Bidspirit auction | Oil painting on canvas depicting

Oil painting on canvas depicting ”Saint Francis in meditation” 74x88 cm 18th century - The painting, an oil on canvas of intense spiritual power, depicts Saint Francis of Assisi caught in a moment of deep ascetic introspection. The Saint is portrayed half-figure, wrapped in a Franciscan habit with the hood raised, with his gaze cast down and his hands joined in prayer over a skull and an open book, classic iconographic symbols of memento mori and meditation on the Scriptures. The work stands out for a skillful use of Caravaggesque luminism: a grazing light comes from the left, hitting the pale face and hands, leaving the rest of the composition immersed in a deep brown background. The pictorial technique, sober and measured, accentuates the austere and devotional character of the subject. It is a work that effectively synthesizes the tradition of Baroque mysticism with a modern sensibility directed towards the psychological investigation of the sacred. Technical Data Subject: Saint Francis of Assisi in prayer Type: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 74x88 cm Condition: Excellent; the pictorial film is intact and presents a natural patina that enhances the chiaroscuro contrasts.