El Greco
The Ecstasy of Saint Francis of Assisi
The theme of the picture is ecstatic, mystical experience of Saint Francis of Assisi, receiving the stigmata of Christ - the signs of his wounds. The moment was depicted by El Greco with characteristic dramatism, originating in Spanish mysticism of the epoch. The Saint is leaning forward, looking towards the sky with tears in his eyes.
Painted in cool tones, but using vibrant, very original and intense light, which has two sources - the first strongly illuminates the figure of Saint Francis, the second comes from the sky and alights his face. This is probably the light of revelation. So earthly and so heavenly, the shades of gray habit were combined with bluish clouds in the background applied to the canvas with bold dynamic brush strokes, nervously, as if hastily, in great tension.
The painting was acquired in an antique shop in Warsaw by priest Stanisław Szepietowski for his cousin Franciszek Dąbrowski, the provost of the parish church in Kosów Lacki. Earlier the painting was possibly in the Lubomirski possession.
It was discovered in 1964 during stock taking at the rectory in Kosów Lacki by the members of the Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Izabella Galicka and Hanna Sygietyńska. During conservation in 1974 the authentic signature in Greek (Domenikos Theotokop...) was discovered under the forged one of van Dyck (A. van Diick). Then the painting was transferred to the diocesan curia in Siedlce, from where it came to the possession of the Diocesan Museum. For many years, for safety reasons, it was not shown to the public. Church authorities also feared that it could be taken over by the state authorities.
From October 15, 2004 it is presented on permanent display in the Diocesan Museum in Siedlce.
Painted in cool tones, but using vibrant, very original and intense light, which has two sources - the first strongly illuminates the figure of Saint Francis, the second comes from the sky and alights his face. This is probably the light of revelation. So earthly and so heavenly, the shades of gray habit were combined with bluish clouds in the background applied to the canvas with bold dynamic brush strokes, nervously, as if hastily, in great tension.
The painting was acquired in an antique shop in Warsaw by priest Stanisław Szepietowski for his cousin Franciszek Dąbrowski, the provost of the parish church in Kosów Lacki. Earlier the painting was possibly in the Lubomirski possession.
It was discovered in 1964 during stock taking at the rectory in Kosów Lacki by the members of the Institute of Art of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Izabella Galicka and Hanna Sygietyńska. During conservation in 1974 the authentic signature in Greek (Domenikos Theotokop...) was discovered under the forged one of van Dyck (A. van Diick). Then the painting was transferred to the diocesan curia in Siedlce, from where it came to the possession of the Diocesan Museum. For many years, for safety reasons, it was not shown to the public. Church authorities also feared that it could be taken over by the state authorities.
From October 15, 2004 it is presented on permanent display in the Diocesan Museum in Siedlce.
oil on canvas, c. 1580, 102 x 75 cm cm (40.2 x 29.5 in), on permanent display, Muzeum Diecezjalne w Siedlcach
© Marcin Latka
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