Heilige Franciscus Xaverius 1648 - 1681

Francois de Poilly created this print of Saint Francis Xavier. The composition is immediately striking; the subject is reclined, framed by a crude, wooden structure. The saint gazes upwards, inviting the viewer's eye to follow towards the cherubic figures nestled in the upper right corner, all rendered in meticulous detail. De Poilly uses line and form to construct a visual narrative that merges the earthly with the divine. The rough texture of the wooden shelter contrasts sharply with the soft, idealized forms of the angels, creating a visual tension that mirrors the spiritual dichotomy of renunciation and salvation. The saint's body, rendered with careful attention to light and shadow, further emphasizes this contrast. The print does not offer a singular, fixed meaning. Instead, it functions as a complex interplay of visual and cultural codes. It invites viewers to interpret and reinterpret the work within the framework of faith, devotion, and the formal language of art itself.