Artwork

Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi, by German 15th Century, ink, 1460
Saint Francis of Assisi, by German 15th Century, ink, 1460

Saint Francis of Assisi is an ink print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1460 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This print, Saint Francis of Assisi, is a hand-colored woodcut depicting a serene scene. Created using a carved wooden block, the image features bold lines and flat colors.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows two figures in a garden: one kneeling with a bird on their hand, the other standing with clasped hands. The simple composition and gentle interaction between the figures convey a sense of peaceful reverence.

Technique & Style

The woodcut technique allowed for sharp lines and clean shapes, while hand-coloring in red lake, green, vermilion, blue, gray, and gold added vibrancy. The colors are applied flatly, emphasizing the graphic quality of the image.

Artist & collection

Portrait of German 15th Century

Artist

German 15th Century

This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.