The Stigmatization of St. Francis

The Stigmatization of St. Francis

An exceptional colorist and the most sensitive of draftsmen, Barocci executed only a few prints. Not surprisingly, his approach to printmaking was quite painterly. Here he creates an atmospheric representation of Saint Francis receiving the stigmata while praying in the hills above Assisi. Through a judicious application of both etching and engraving—an innovative combination at the time—Barocci translates the saint’s ecstasy into a physical haze of natural forms in the background that fade away from Francis’s more strongly delineated figure. Through masterful handling of the medium, Barocci conveys the intensity and wonder of the saint’s experience.

Federico Barocci
Italian, ca. 1535–1612

Allen Memorial Art Museum, Gift of Parks and Christie Campbell

ca. 1581

Etching and engraving
Overall: 9 × 5 13/16 in. (22.9 × 14.8 cm)

Print

1983.32