Saint Francis in Prayer c. 1620 - 1630

Bernardo Strozzi's Saint Francis in Prayer is an oil painting, a medium that allows a rich surface of light and shadow. The materiality of oil paint is critical here. Strozzi has built up the image through layers of translucent glazes, creating a palpable sense of form. Look at the folds of the saint's coarse robe, rendered with thick strokes of earth-toned pigment. Notice the way the light catches on the skull, a stark memento mori, and the delicate rendering of the rosary beads, which almost seem to emerge from the darkness. In the 17th century, preparing and applying oil paint was a laborious, highly skilled process, undertaken by workshop apprentices. It was a world away from the supposed flash of artistic genius. Here, Strozzi uses his material to emphasize the virtues of piety, humility, and dedication. The painting style mirrors the Saint's own commitment to a life of poverty and prayer, elevating craft to a spiritual plane.