Stigmatisation of St. Francis 1445

This is Stefan Lochner's depiction of the Stigmatisation of St. Francis. In this scene, St. Francis kneels, receiving the stigmata—the wounds of Christ—beamed down from a seraph. The motif of divine light transmitting grace is ancient. We see its echoes in depictions of the Annunciation, where rays of light connect the divine and earthly realms. Here, however, these are no mere rays, but instruments of corporeal transformation and a powerful expression of empathetic suffering. The seraph, a winged being holding the cross, recalls classical depictions of victory. The cross itself, an instrument of torture, has been transformed into a symbol of triumph and divine grace. Francis's raised hands mimic the posture of prayer and supplication that one finds in early Christian art and continue to see throughout the ages, connecting him with the past, present, and future devotees. This image is not just a depiction of a historical event, but an invitation to experience, subconsciously, the profound depths of faith and the mysteries of spiritual transformation. It's a stark reminder of how potent symbols endure, resurfacing across centuries, forever resonating with our collective memory.