Saint Francis Embracing Christ on the Cross facts for kids
Saint Francis Embracing Christ on the Cross is a famous painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. He created this oil painting between 1668 and 1669. Today, you can see it at the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville in Spain.
This artwork is also known as Allegory of Saint Francis' Renunciation of the Material World to Follow Jesus. It shows an important moment in the life of Francis of Assisi. He was a saint who gave up his wealth to follow a religious path.
About the Painting
This painting was part of a series of artworks. The Capuchin Order asked Murillo to paint them for their church in Seville. These paintings showed key ideas of the Franciscan way of life.
What the Painting Shows
The painting shows Francis of Assisi hugging Jesus Christ on the cross. It symbolizes the moment Francis decided to leave behind all his worldly possessions. You can see him pushing away a globe with his right foot. The globe stands for the world and all its material things.
Next to the cross, two small angels, called cherubs, are holding an open book. The book shows a passage from the Gospel of Luke (14:33). It says, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." This message explains why Francis gave up his wealth.
Other Similar Paintings
Other artists also painted this subject. For example, Francisco Ribalta painted a similar scene around 1658. His painting was for the Capuchin monastery in Valencia. The Capuchins in Valencia helped start the monastery in Seville. This might be why Murillo was asked to paint the same subject.
See also
In Spanish: San Francisco abrazando a Cristo en la Cruz para niños
