Great Artworks: Saint Francis in Meditation by Francisco de Zurburán
A gripping image that describes a model of meditative worship
A robed monk kneels, his hands clasped, his fingers interlaced. His head is raised upwards and his mouth has fallen open. The image is utterly simply, but it’s effect is complex.
The artist was Francisco de Zurburán (1598–1664), a Spanish painter who gained popularity with monastic orders in Seville, from whom he received commissions for many of his paintings.
Zurburán’s style evolved to use a bold form of chiaroscuro — effects of contrast between light and shadow— known as tenebrism. This is the use of extreme lighting opposition to heighten the dramatic effect. The term is derived from the Latin tenebrae, meaning “darkness”. In this painting of St Francis, the figure is illuminated by a bright light from the side, contrasted against an unadorned dark background.
The kneeling monk is St Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order, or the Order of Friars Minor. He was an Italian preacher whose ascetic lifestyle inspired many followers. By the time of his death he was widely venerated, and from as early as the 14th century, scenes from his life had become a popular subject for works of art.
