Stigmatization of Saint Francis

Albrecht Altdorfer painted this Stigmatization of Saint Francis around 1507 in Regensburg. Altdorfer's revolutionary approach to landscape painting transformed the natural world from a backdrop into an expressive protagonist. Even in this religious subject, the forest setting assumes a mystical, almost overwhelming presence. The tempera medium required careful preparation on a gessoed panel and a disciplined layering technique that produced precise, durable surfaces suited to the intricate detail expected of devotional painting.

Oil on panel with Altdorfer's characteristic atmospheric light effects and densely rendered forest setting. The saint's mystical experience is framed by the Danube School's pioneering landscape approach.