Saint Francis in Ecstasy 1645 - 1655

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, known as Il Grechetto, painted "Saint Francis in Ecstasy" between 1645 and 1655. The painting depicts Saint Francis of Assisi kneeling in prayer on a rocky outcrop with a skull and a book in the foreground. The saint holds a crucifix and looks up towards a heavenly light, his expression one of intense devotion. The dramatic composition, with Saint Francis illuminated by the divine light, evokes a sense of spiritual fervor and the ecstatic experience of the saint. This is a powerful example of Italian Baroque art, known for its dramatic use of light and shadow and emotional intensity. The painting is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.