The Vision of Saint Francis

The originality of this tender image lies in the fact that it is probably the very first pictorial representation of the theme. The story first appeared in the 'Liber Miracolorum', a collection of miracles written in the mid-13th century: one night, a friar followed Saint Francis into a forest and witnessed the Virgin handing the Christ Child to the Saint. The friar is the small figure kneeling in the background.

The artist creates an intensely human moment by showing the playful interaction between Christ and Saint Francis. The Virgin's gaze and clasped hands seem to suggest that she is deeply absorbed in thought. In contrast to the earthly setting occupied by Saint Francis, Mary stands on clouds as a reminder of the deeply spiritual nature of the event.

This is an early work by Ludovico Carracci, who came from an important family of Bolognese artists that rose to prominence in the last quarter of the 16th century.