Artwork
Teile eines Altares: Stigmatisation des hl. Franziskus
Teile eines Altares: Stigmatisation des hl. Franziskus is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Hans Fries. It dates from 1501 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1501, this panel forms part of a larger altarpiece and portrays Saint Francis of Assisi at the moment of receiving the stigmata.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1501, this panel forms part of a larger altarpiece and portrays Saint Francis of Assisi at the moment of receiving the stigmata. The composition centers on a solemn figure in a gray habit, arms uplifted, crowned with a thin golden halo, set against a cloudy sky and a distant church with a red roof.
Subject & Meaning
The work visualises the mystical experience of Saint Francis, whose wounds mirroring Christ’s crucifixion were a popular devotional theme in late medieval spirituality. The raised arms and serene expression convey acceptance and reverence, while the background church and a reading figure underscore the connection between earthly worship and heavenly revelation.
Technique & Style
Fries employs a restrained palette of muted grays and earth tones, contrasting the bright red roof and the golden halo. The figure’s drapery is rendered with careful modeling, giving a sense of volume, while the cloudy atmosphere and the winged, bow‑armed figure above introduce a subtle narrative element typical of Northern Renaissance visual storytelling.
History & Provenance
Hans Fries, a native of Fribourg, painted the piece while serving as the city’s official painter, a role that involved producing numerous altarpieces for local churches. After relocating to Bern around 1510, Fries continued his career until his death circa 1523. The panel eventually entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display.
Context
The painting reflects the devotional climate of the Swiss Confederacy on the eve of the Reformation, when saints’ lives were visualised to inspire piety. Fries’ training under Heinrich Bichler and his work on civic commissions positioned him within the Northern Renaissance, blending Gothic iconography with emerging naturalistic detail.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Fries (c. 1465 – c. 1523) was a Swiss painter before the Reformation. Fries was born in Fribourg, the son of a baker, and studied with the Bernese painter Heinrich Bichler. After a stay in Basel in the year…
Stigmatization of Saint Francis
Estigmatização de São Francisco
The Death of Saint Peter Martyr
Stigmata of St. Francis
São Francisco recebe os Estigmas
Saint Anthony of Padua
Saint Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata
Saint Peter the Martyr praying
Saint Bernardino of Siena
Saint Nicholas Saving a Hang
Death of Saint Peter martyr
Jakobus-Stephanus-Altar: Steinigung des hl. Stephanus