St. Francis receiving the stigmata 1590

El Greco painted *St. Francis receiving the stigmata* in oil, its size lending itself to intimate contemplation. Dominating the canvas is St. Francis in his brown robe. He is rendered in El Greco's signature elongated form, his gaze upward, as if receiving a divine message. The composition is built around opposing diagonals that lead the eye to the upper left and lower right corners. Notice how the swirling, turbulent clouds in the background contrast with the stark, still skull at the saint's feet. This juxtaposition functions as a symbolic play between spiritual ecstasy and earthly mortality. El Greco destabilizes traditional representations of religious scenes, emphasizing the subjective, visionary experience over strict naturalism. His use of tenebrism—the dramatic contrast between light and dark—heightens the emotional intensity. Consider how the deliberate distortion of form, typical of Mannerism, underscores a shift towards individual emotion and spiritual expression. The painting's enduring power resides in its ability to evoke an emotional response. Its formal qualities acting as a bridge between the earthly and the divine.