St Francis at the Foot of the Cross 1606 - 1691

Anthony van Dyck painted "St. Francis at the Foot of the Cross" during a period rife with religious and political conflict. Van Dyck, positioned as a leading painter of the Flemish Baroque, captures St. Francis in profound communion with the crucified Christ. The emotional intensity of the scene is striking. The way Francis is depicted embracing the cross, his face pressed against Christ's feet, speaks volumes about devotion but also the physical and emotional labor of faith. This work reflects the period's emphasis on personal religious experience, diverging from more formal, traditional representations. Van Dyck invites us to consider the sensory experience of faith, not just the theological doctrine. In doing so, he touches on the raw, human aspects of belief, making it deeply relatable.