Receiving the Stigmata 1429

Fra Angelico painted “Receiving the Stigmata” around 1428-1430. This is a key moment in the life of St. Francis, who is seen here receiving the stigmata, the wounds of Christ. Angelico was a friar himself, and his paintings often reflect his deep personal faith. The panel illustrates a transformative spiritual experience. Francis kneels, his arms outstretched, in a gesture of total surrender as golden rays pour down upon him. It is an intense moment of connection to the divine, rendered in vivid color. The landscape is as much a character here as Francis is. The dramatic rocks, painted with subtle gradations of color, create an atmosphere of solemnity and isolation. In his pursuit of religious experience, Francis’s identity became deeply connected to his body through the stigmata. What does it mean to become closer to God through physical suffering?