Title
St. Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross, 1437-1444. Creator: Sassetta (Italian, 1392-1450).
Caption
St. Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross, 1437-1444. Because of his simplicity, piety, and devotion to all living creatures, Saint Francis (1181-1226) has remained among the most revered and popular saints. Born to wealthy parents in Assisi, he first lived a life of spendthrift luxury. However, Francis later gave up all worldly goods and embraced an existence of utter poverty. Throughout his adult life, the saint experienced mystical trances and visions of Christ. Atop the cross here is a leafy tree and a nest of pelicans. Fifteenth-century viewers would have recognized the tree as a reference to the cross, which is often described as a tree, symbolizing Christ's role as the source of eternal life. The pelican, shown nourishing its young with its own blood, symbolizes Christ, who sacrifices himself for the salvation of mankind. This painting was the center pinnacle on the back of a double-sided altarpiece made for the church of San Francesco in Borgo Sansepolcro (near Arezzo).
Credit line
Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art
Reference
HRM19G07_214
Model release
NA
Property release
NA
License type
Rights managed
Available size
55,1Mb (4,1Mb) / 10,8in x 19,7in / 3253 x 5921 (300dpi)