Stigmatization of Saint Francis

The Stigmatization of Saint Francis depicts one of the culminating episodes of the saint's spiritual life: the reception of Christ's wounds during his retreat on Mount La Verna. According to Franciscan tradition, Francis saw in the sky a six-winged seraph bearing the image of the crucified Christ. Following this vision, the wounds of the Passion were imprinted on his own body.

The fresco transforms this mystical event into a remarkably clear narrative in which the supernatural experience unfolds within a tangible rocky landscape. Francis occupies the lower central area, kneeling on the ground and turning toward the celestial apparition. His body leans slightly backward while his arms open in a gesture of astonishment, acceptance and surrender. The image thus creates a symbolic parallel between Christ's Passion and Francis's life, one of the central themes of medieval Franciscan spirituality.