“St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata” is a religious painting by El Greco, created around 1578 during the Spanish Mannerism period of the Late Renaissance. The artwork is executed in oil on canvas and measures approximately 107 by 87 centimeters. El Greco’s composition, currently housed at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, explores the profound spiritual experience of St. Francis of Assisi.
The artwork depicts St. Francis of Assisi in a moment of divine interaction as he receives the stigmata—the wounds corresponding to those of Christ’s crucifixion. El Greco represents the saint in a humble pose of adoration and surprise. The Saint’s head is tilted upwards towards a celestial light, signifying the divine presence. His facial expression is one of deep contemplation and awe, with eyes raised upward and mouth slightly open as if in mid-conversation or caught in a gasp.
The figure of St. Francis is robed in the simple, earth-toned habit of his monastic order, which is rendered with careful attention to the texture and fold of the fabric. The dramatic contrast between light and darkness not only highlights the saint but also gives the scene a sense of supernatural occurrence.
In true Mannerist fashion, the physical form of St. Francis is elongated, suggesting an otherworldliness and emphasizing the spiritual nature of the event. Moreover, the use of chiaroscuro—a technique where sharp contrasts of light and dark intensify the emotion of the composition—adds a further dramatic quality to the piece, which is characteristic of El Greco’s expressive style.
The background is kept intentionally dark and ambiguous to focus the viewer’s attention on St. Francis and the mystical experience he undergoes. The economy of visual elements ensures that the narrative moment of receiving the stigmata is conveyed with immediate and powerful emotional impact.
Overall, the artwork eloquently captures the mysticism that is often associated with St. Francis and the intensity of his connection with the divine, which are central themes in the representation of this canonized figure within Christian art.
