Vision of St. Francis of Assisi 1638

"Vision of St. Francis of Assisi" is a 1638 painting by Jusepe de Ribera depicting the saint in a moment of mystical vision. The painting, now housed in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, features St. Francis in a dark setting, with an angel hovering above him, holding a crystal orb. The juxtaposition of St. Francis's earthly form with the ethereal angel, and the presence of a skull, evokes themes of mortality and the spiritual realm. De Ribera's masterful use of chiaroscuro, with strong contrasts of light and shadow, adds to the dramatic impact of the scene.