Study for Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata 1632 - 1634

"Study for Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata" is a pen and ink drawing by Italian artist Guercino, created between 1632 and 1634. The drawing depicts Saint Francis of Assisi in a dynamic pose, his arms raised to the sky in a gesture of prayer and surrender. This preparatory drawing for a larger painting, now housed in The Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies the Baroque era's interest in dramatic composition and emotional intensity. The gestural lines used by Guercino give a sense of movement and energy to the composition, capturing the moment of Saint Francis's mystical experience.