Who painted The Stigmatization of Saint Francis?

The Stigmatization of Saint Francis was painted by Johann Matthias Kager in 1607.

Where can I see The Stigmatization of Saint Francis?

The Stigmatization of Saint Francis is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Stigmatization of Saint Francis?

The Stigmatization of Saint Francis is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Stigmatization of Saint Francis

Johann Matthias Kager , 1607

The Stigmatization of Saint Francis is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Johann Matthias Kager. It dates from 1607 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Johann Matthias Kager’s 1607 drawing, titled The Stigmatization of Saint Francis, is executed in pen and black ink with a gray wash on laid paper. The work depicts the Franciscan saint bearing the wounds of his crucifixion, rendered as a single‑figure composition that emphasizes the physical marks on his hands.

Subject & Meaning

The image focuses on Saint Francis of Assisi at the moment of receiving the stigmata, the miraculous appearance of Christ’s crucifixion wounds on his body. By concentrating on the hands, Kager highlights the saint’s spiritual union with Christ’s suffering, a theme central to Counter‑Reformation devotional art.

Technique & Style

Kager employs a restrained pen line combined with a gray wash to model form. Cross‑hatching creates tonal variation, while the wash supplies a soft atmospheric background. This economical approach to line and shading reflects early‑17th‑century drawing conventions, allowing narrative clarity without elaborate detail.

History & Provenance

The drawing was produced in 1607, during Kager’s mature period in Augsburg. It remains a singular example of his religious draftsmanship, documented in early inventories of the artist’s workshop and later acquired by a private collection before entering a museum’s holdings in the late 20th century.