St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata

Art Historical Context

This evocative drawing by Spanish Baroque artist Antonio de Pereda captures the pivotal moment when Saint Francis of Assisi receives the stigmata—the wounds of Christ—while in ecstatic prayer. Created in the 17th century during the height of the Counter-Reformation, the work reflects the era’s deep emphasis on personal devotion and mystical experience, themes that resonated strongly in Catholic Spain. Pereda, known for his religious compositions and meticulous still lifes, brings a sense of intimate drama to the scene through the saint’s rapt expression and the presence of angels and a radiant cross. Executed in pen and brown ink with delicate gray washes over red and black chalk, the drawing showcases Pereda’s skillful handling of light and shadow on beige paper. Such mixed-media techniques allowed artists to explore tonal effects and compositional ideas before committing to larger paintings or altarpieces. The visible ground line and border suggest this may have been a preparatory study, offering viewers a rare glimpse into the artist’s working process. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, this piece highlights the enduring popularity of Franciscan imagery in European art. Its modest scale invites close looking, revealing the tender humanity at the heart of one of Christianity’s most beloved saints.