Artwork
Saint Francis
Saint Francis is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Leandro Bassano. It dates from 1596 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Saint Francis is a 1596 oil painting by Leandro Bassano, a member of a family of artists and a representative of the early Baroque style in Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Saint Francis kneeling on a rocky outcropping, lost in prayer or contemplation, as indicated by his bowed head and hand on his chest.
Technique & Style
The artist achieved a strong sense of depth and focus through the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that exploits contrast between light and dark to draw attention to the subject's face.
History & Provenance
The painting is now part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum's collection. Leandro Bassano, born in 1557, was the son of Jacopo Bassano and was later knighted by the Doge of Venice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Leandro Bassano (10 June 1557 – 15 April 1622), also called Leandro dal Ponte, was an Italian Renaissance painter from Bassano del Grappa who was awarded a knighthood by the Doge of Venice.
