Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy Postcard - Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

Description: Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy Art Postcard - Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio In the painting, St Francis reclines in the arms of a winged angel. The eyes of the saint are closed and the look of intensity upon his face suggests that he is experiencing deep emotion or ecstasy. Despite the presence of the angel, the bed of verdure underneath the saint indicates that he is not in heaven, but very firmly upon earth. The figures are lit by an unidentified source of brightness, cast upon the face and hands of St. Francis and throwing one half of the body and face of the angel into shadow. Together with the ripples on the pond and the faint but definite floral outlines in the background, this use of light emphasizes the physicality of the scene while imbuing it with a spiritual glow. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio c.1571-1610 revolutionized the painting of his time through his depiction of everyday people in historical scenes, his dramatic use of light, his brilliant naturalism in painting details of objects and nature, and his psychological interpretation of narrative. These qualities can be seen here in his first known religious composition. Caravaggio painted "Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy" in Rome for the Genoese banker and art collector Ottavio Costa. Saint Francis is just emerging from an ecstatic state cradled by an angel, while shepherds sit in the shadowy background bathed in a mystical light. Identifying himself with Christ’s suffering, Saint Francis has just received the stigmata—the actual wounds of the Crucifixion—visible only on his side. In 1943, this painting became the first by Caravaggio to enter a public collection in the United States. It is considered to be one of the most important Baroque paintings in America. The Wadsworth Atheneum is an art museum in Hartford, Connecticut. The Wadsworth is noted for its collections of European Baroque art, ancient Egyptian and Classical bronzes, French and American Impressionist paintings, Hudson River School landscapes, modernist masterpieces and contemporary works, as well as collections of early American furniture and decorative arts. This painting is currently not view and is on loan to another museum. Please review the photos carefully for condition and detail. Normal wear associated with an old postcard have creases, corner bumps, scratches, ink on the front etc.

Price: 9.99 USD

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

End Time: 2025-02-03T02:39:39.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0.97 USD