Saint Francis receives the Stigmata

This depiction of Saint Francis receiving the stigmata on Mount La Verna was painted around 1420 and reflects the profound Franciscan devotion widespread in central Italy during the early fifteenth century. Gentile da Fabriano, who worked extensively in Umbria and the Marche — regions deeply connected to Franciscan tradition — brings his characteristic refinement to this mystical subject. The painting is now in the Fondazione Magnani-Rocca collection near Parma. The rocky landscape setting shows Gentile's interest in natural observation, while the golden rays connecting Christ to Francis follow established iconographic convention.

The rocky landscape is rendered with careful attention to geological texture, while the figure of Francis displays the elongated proportions and devotional intensity characteristic of Gentile's religious panels. The gold rays of the stigmata create a striking geometric pattern against the naturalistic landscape, blending symbolic and observational elements.