Detail View: The AMICA Library: St. Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross
|
AMICA ID:
|
CMA_.1962.36
|
|
AMICA Library Year:
|
2001
|
|
Object Type:
|
Paintings
|
|
Creator Name:
|
Sassetta
|
|
Creator Nationality:
|
European; Southern European; Italian
|
|
Creator Role:
|
artist
|
|
Creator Dates/Places:
|
1392 - 1450
|
|
Gender:
|
M
|
|
Creator Name-CRT:
|
Sassetta
|
|
Title:
|
St. Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross
|
|
Title Type:
|
Primary
|
|
View:
|
Full View
|
|
Creation Date:
|
1437-1444
|
|
Creation Start Date:
|
1437
|
|
Creation End Date:
|
1444
|
|
Materials and Techniques:
|
tempera and gold on wood
|
|
Dimensions:
|
Framed: 91cm x 46.5cm x 4.5cm, Unframed: 81cm x 40.2cm
|
|
AMICA Contributor:
|
The Cleveland Museum of Art
|
|
Owner Location:
|
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
|
|
ID Number:
|
1962.36
|
|
Credit Line:
|
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund
|
|
Rights:
|
|
|
Provenance:
|
S. Francesco, Borgo Sansepolcro (broken up c. 1578); Prince Johann Georg of Saxony (by 1936); Gerhard Freiherr von Preuschen, Stuttgart (1950); (P. Drey, New York)
|
|
Context:
|
Because of his simplicity, piety, and devotion to all living creatures, St. Francis (1181-1226) has remained among the most revered and popular saints. Born to wealthy parents in Assisi, he first lived a life of spendthrift luxury. However, Francis later gave up all worldly goods and embraced existence of utter poverty. Throughout his adult life, the saint experienced mystical trances and visions of Christ.Atop the cross is a leafy tree and a nest of pelicans. Fifteenth century viewers would have recognized the tree as a reference to the cross, which is often described as a tree, symbolizing Christ's role as the source of eternal life. The pelican, shown nourishing it's young with its own blood, symbolizes Christ, who sacrifices himself for the salvation of mankind.This painting was the center pinnacle on the back of a double-sided altarpiece made for the church of San Francesco in Borgo Sansepolcro (near Arezzo). Below this panel was a scene of St. Francis in Glory (Villa I Tatti, Florence).
|
|
Related Image Identifier Link:
|
CMA_.1962.36.TIF
|