Bowl Depicting Saint Francis Receiving Stigmata

1531

Bowl Depicting Saint Francis Receiving Stigmata, 1531. Italy, Deruta, 16th century. Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica); diameter: 41.3 cm (16 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the Mildred Andrews Fund 1988.95 In this depiction representing his closeness to Christ, Saint Francis receives the stigmata through strikes of light from a vision of the risen Lord hovering as an angel in front of the basilica at Assisi. This bowl likely recalls a panel painting produced by the Italian master painter Giotto around 1300. According to Christian tradition, the stigmata correspond to the appearance of Christ’s wounds at similar places on the faithful following his crucifixion.