Franciscan Art & Architechture

Franciscan Art & Architecture

"We owe to the mind of Francis that a certain breath and inspiration nobler than human has stirred up the minds of our countrymen so that, in reproducing his deeds in painting, poetry and sculpture, emulation has stirred the industry of the greatest artists. Dante even found in Francis matter for his grand and most sweet verse; Cimabue and Giotto drew from his history subjects which they immortalized with the pencil of a Parrhasius; celebrated architects found in him the motive for their magnificent structures, whether at the tomb of the Poor Man himself, or at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, the witness of so many and so great miracles." (Pope Leo XIII, Auspicato Concessum, n.22)

Franciscan Art

Courtesy of the Web Gallery of Art, Hungary

This Database contains over 3000 electronic images of the most famous works of art in European and Foreign Museums. Since it contains so many images, you are invited to search yourself for your favorite Franciscan or Poor Clare Saint, through their handy interface: Web Gallery of Art: Search

Here below, is a listing of the art depicting St. Francis of Assisi, at the Web Gallery:

Art depicting St. Francis

Individual Works of Art depicting St. Francis

Andrea del Sarto [1486-1530]

Madonna of the Harpies depicts St. Francis with St. John the Baptist, at Our Lady’s side

1517
Oil on wood, 208 x 178 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Bonaventura Berlinghieri [fl. 1230]

St Francis: one of the earliest icons of the Saint (c. 1230)

1235
Tempera on wood
Church of San Francesco, Pescia

Giovanni Bellini [c. 1426-1516]

The Nativity Triptych depicts St. Francis at the right hand of the Holy Family

1460-64
Tempera on panel
Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice

The Pesaro Altarpiece : this magnificent profession of Franciscan Faith, depicts St. Francis, in attendance at the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

1471-74
Oil on panel, 262 x 240 cm
Musei Civici, Pesaro

St Francis in Ecstasy as he receives the Stigmata

1480-85
Oil on panel, 120 x 137 cm
Frick Collection, New York

Madonna and Child with Four Saints and Donor, depicts St. Francis humbly standing at the side of the Child Jesus

1507
Oil on wood, 90 x 145 cm
S. Francesco della Vigna, Venice

Bartolomeo Bon [fl. 1421-1464]

St Francis Statue

Marble
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice

Caravaggio [1573-1610] a.k.a. Michelangelo Merisi

Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence

1609
Oil on canvas, 268 x 197 cm
Formerly San Lorenzo, Palermo (lost)

St Francis contemplates Sister Death, with link to streaming mp3 audio, of Michael Haydn’s Mass in Honor of St. Francis (33 minutes)

c. 1606
Oil on canvas, 125 x 93 cm
Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome

St. Francis in Ecstasy : a depiction of the fruit of St. Francis' sublime imitation of Christ. (for detail click here)

c. 1595
Oil on canvas, 92,5 x 128,4 cm
Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut

Cimabue

Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis and four Angels: this is the famous Byzantine style Madonna & St. Francis from the Basilica of St. Francis, in Assisi

1278-80
Fresco, 320 x 340 cm
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi

Madonna Enthroned with the Child, St Francis St. Domenic and two Angels

Tempera on wood, 133 x 81 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Correggio [c. 1490-1534]

Madonna with St. Francis and St. Anthony, St. John the Baptist

1514
Oil on wood, 299 x 245 cm
Gemäldegalerie, Dresden

The Rest on the Flight to Egypt with Saint Francis : St. Francis happens upon the Holy Family in humble amazement

1517
Oil on canvas, 123,5 x 106,5 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Bicci di Lorenzo

Sts Francis of Assisi, Louis of Toulouse and Anthony of Padua

1427-29
Tempera on panel, gold ground, 27 x 17 cm
Private collection

Jan van Eyck [c. 1395-1441]

The Stigmatization of St. Francis

1428-29
Oil on wood, 12,5 x 14,5 cm
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia

Taddeo Gaddi

The Stigmatization of St. Francis

Stained glass window
Cappella Baroncelli, Santa Croce, Florence

Giotto di Bondone [1267-1337]

Description and location of the Legend of St Francis fresco cycle in the Upper Basilica of St. Francis, in Assisi, Italia. These 2 cycles of frescos contain scenes from all the important events of St. Francis’ life.

Complete Listing of Frescos in Upper Basilica

click this link, and then go to the smaller numbered links beneath the initial 3 diagrams, for a complete list of all images, and their descriptions.

Complete Listing of Frescos in Lower Basilica

click this link, and then go to the smaller numbered links beneath the initial panoramic image, for a complete list of all images, and their descriptions.

The Frescoes at Santa Croce, the Bardi Chapel, Firenze, Italia.

click this link, and then go to the smaller numbered links beneath the initial image of St. Clare, for a complete list of all images, and their descriptions.

Other works by Giotto di Bondone not at Assisi

Stigmatization of St Francis

1300
Tempera on wood, 314 x 162 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

Detail showing St. Francis receiving the Rule from Pope Innocent, and the Dream of Pope Innocent in which he saw the Poverello holding up St. John Lateran

Death and Ascension of St Francis
Saint Francis and Saint Clare

Ghirlandaio [1449-1494]

Frescoes in the Cappella Sassetti of S. Trinita in Florence

This cycle includes the following scenes from life of St. Francis:

1. The Sigmatization of St. Francis on Mt. Alverna

2. The Trial of Fire before the Sultan of Egypt, while St. Francis attended the 4th Crusade

3. The Obsequies of St. Francis

4. The Confirmation of the Rule (see here below)

5. The Resurrection of a Boy

The Confirmation of the Rule of St. Francis by Pope Honorius III, on Nov. 23, 1223 A.D.

1482-85
Fresco
Santa Trinità, Florence

Detail showing St. Francis receiving the Rule from to Pope Honorius III