De heilige Franciscus getroost door een musicerende engel 1581 - 1633

This engraving, titled 'Saint Francis Comforted by an Angel Playing Music', was created by an anonymous artist. Images of Saint Francis such as this one were particularly important as vehicles for piety. Here, Francis leans against a rock, a crucifix in his arms, while an angel descends to play the violin for him. The presence of the skull at his side reminds us of mortality and the transitory nature of earthly life, a common theme in art of this period. Note the musical instrument: music and harmony as metaphors for divine order were thought to lift the soul towards God. The very act of depiction is itself a complex negotiation between what is shown and what remains unseen. Consider, for example, how the artist uses light and shadow to emphasize Francis’s vulnerability and spiritual devotion. It's a potent reminder of the intertwined nature of faith, suffering, and the search for divine solace.