Saint Francis In Ecstasy c. 1577 - 1580

El Greco rendered 'Saint Francis In Ecstasy' with oil on canvas, presenting a figure consumed by divine rapture. Notice the stark contrast between the earthly skull and Francis’s upward gaze, illuminated by a divine light. The composition employs elongated forms and muted tones, typical of El Greco, creating an ethereal, almost otherworldly atmosphere. Francis’s hands, bearing the stigmata, are prominently displayed, emphasizing the physical manifestation of his spiritual experience. The use of light and shadow not only models the figure but also dramatizes the moment of ecstasy, drawing the viewer into Francis’s internal state. El Greco's Mannerist style deliberately departs from naturalism. Through the distortion of form and space, he destabilizes conventional representations. The skull, a symbol of mortality, sits juxtaposed against the saint's transcendent expression, questioning the boundaries between the physical and the spiritual. Ultimately, it is through these formal choices that El Greco invites us to contemplate the complex interplay between faith, suffering, and the divine. The artwork doesn't provide fixed answers; instead, it provokes ongoing contemplation.