Description
The Louvre's Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata is one of the most important works associated with Giotto's early career and a key document for understanding the relationship between his panel painting and the Franciscan cycle at Assisi. The main scene depicts Francis on Mount La Verna receiving the wounds of Christ. Kneeling in a rocky landscape, he turns toward the crucified seraph appearing above.
Fine rays link the wounds of the heavenly figure to Francis's hands, feet and side, making the supernatural transmission of the stigmata visually explicit. A strong diagonal connects saint and apparition. Francis twists his body and raises his hands in a reaction combining astonishment, fear and acceptance. The landscape of La Verna is built from stepped rocky masses, trees and small buildings that anchor the miracle in a recognizable environment.





