Artwork
Stigmatization of Saint Francis
Stigmatization of Saint Francis is a paint painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Altdorfer. It dates from 1507 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1507 by Albrecht Altdorfer, a German painter associated with the Danube School, this tempera work portrays Saint Francis in the act of receiving the stigmata. The composition places the saint in a forest clearing, his posture kneeling and his hands uplifted in prayer, while the surrounding woodland recedes into a richly detailed natural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures the moment when Saint Francis is marked with the wounds of Christ, a pivotal episode in his hagiography that emphasizes his devotion and union with the suffering of Jesus. Altdorfer’s depiction underscores the saint’s humility and spiritual serenity, inviting contemplation of divine sacrifice through the quiet intensity of the figure’s expression.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting employs a subtle palette of muted greens and earth tones, creating a calm atmosphere.
Executed in tempera, the painting employs a subtle palette of muted greens and earth tones, creating a calm atmosphere. Altdorfer uses chiaroscuro to model forms, contrasting illuminated areas of the saint and foliage with deeper shadows, thereby enhancing depth and three‑dimensionality. The landscape reflects the Danube School’s characteristic attention to atmospheric detail and naturalistic rendering.
History & Provenance
After its completion in Regensburg, the work entered various collections before being acquired by the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it remains on display. Its presence in a major public museum attests to its importance within Altdorfer’s oeuvre and to the broader appreciation of early Northern Renaissance religious painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…
Saint Francis receiving the Stigmata
Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata
Stigmata of St. Francis
Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata
Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata
Saint Francis of Assisi receives the Stigmata
Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata
St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata
Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata