Saint Francis Before the Bishop 1466 - 1472

Niccolò Solimani, also known as Niccolò da Verona, sketched “Saint Francis Before the Bishop” using pen and brown ink. Here, we witness a pivotal moment where Francis, poised between the opulence of religious authority and the simplicity of his chosen path, renounces his earthly possessions. The scene is thick with class tensions, as Francis stands naked before a bishop and other clerics. Francis's act isn't just about personal devotion, it is a confrontation with the established order of his time. The bishop's gaze and the reactions of those around him, capture a society grappling with shifting values. Solimani seems to be asking, what does it mean to choose poverty in a world defined by wealth and power? This drawing invites us to consider the historical weight of such decisions, the courage it takes to defy societal expectations, and the ongoing relevance of Francis’s message of radical humility.