St. Francis 1614 - 1686

This is Gilles Rousselet’s engraving, *St. Francis*, made in the 17th century. Rousselet, who was the official engraver of the King, produced many religious images during the Counter-Reformation. Here, St. Francis is depicted in a moment of spiritual contemplation. He leans against a stone, clutching a simple wooden cross and a rosary, while a skull rests beside him—a stark reminder of mortality. His gaze is directed upwards as if seeking divine inspiration. What I find particularly compelling is the tension between the glorification of the saint and the emphasis on his humility and suffering. St. Francis was known for his poverty and service to the poor, yet, the halo confers a sense of the divine. The detailed rendering of his worn garments, the skull and weathered landscape evoke the asceticism and self-denial that defined his spiritual path. It makes you wonder about the artist’s intentions and the values of the society that commissioned and consumed this image.