The figure of Saint Francis of Assisi gained popularity during the Catholic Reformation due to his focus on penitence and religious devotion. In this painting, El Greco references Saint Francis's last month of his life, which he spent in isolation with his assistant, Brother Leo. Saint Francis is shown holding a skeleton, meditating on death and its repercussions. El Greco displayed the influence of his Venetian training in his use of dry brushstrokes to create a coarse texture for Saint Francis's clothing, a reference to Franciscan belief in the ideal of poverty. Title Saint Francis in Meditation with Brother Leo Creator El Greco (Dom¨¦nikos Theotok¨®poulos) Date Created ca. 1600-1605 Location Created Spain Physical Dimensions 61 1/8 x 39 3/8 in. (155.3 x 100 cm) Type painting Rights Museo de Arte de Ponce. The Luis A. Ferr¨¦ Foundation, Inc. Purchased with the support of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Mr. David Rockefeller Medium oil on canvas
