St. Francis In Ecstasy

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According to the Oxford Dictionaries, the word ecstasy is defined as, “an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement; an emotional religious frenzy or trance-like state, originally one involving an experience of mystic self-transcendence.” In this essay, I will discuss Giovanni Bellini’s St. Francis in Ecstasy, and whether or not the painting depicts the moment St. Francis received the stigmata. I believe that the painting, St. Francis in Ecstasy, does not depict the exact moment that St. Francis received the stigmata because in the painting he already has the markings on his hands. When first glancing at this painting by Giovanni Bellini it could be misconstrued as the stigmatization, just by looking at the heavenly light…show more content…
Francis received the stigmata on the Mount La Verna in the Apennines in September, the time and place this painting depicts. He started the Franciscan order and was from a town called Assisi. Before he chose to follow God, he was very rich and wealthy and then one day he changed all that and gave everything he owned to the poor. Apparently according to Fleming St. Francis had a deep spiritual connection to Christ, but also with the prophets of the Old Testament. St. Francis’ trek up Mount La Verna is in correlation to Moses’ trek up Mount Horeb (source). When having that connection with God, St. Francis along with Moses and Aaron have the same quality as the lawgiver (source). The hut on the right of the painting symbolizes the story of Moses and the Israelites in the desert (source). The hut is composed of different kinds of wood and a vine that runs up the middle creating shelter. According to Marilyn Lavin, the use of multiple kinds of wood was used in Jacopus del Voragine’s description of Christ’s cross in the Golden Legend. The book states, “the cross was made out of palm-wood, cedar, cypress, and olive-wood.” Inside the dwelling carpentry lectern and misericordia seat (source). A walking stick and shoes are also seen inside the hut, which is contrary to the beliefs of the Franciscans only someone very sick could have either (source). It is said that late in St. Francis’ life he experienced a lot of pain and suffered each day till he died thus needing to wear shoes and walk with a cane towards the end of his life. Though in this painting, St. Francis in Ecstasy, he is shown not wearing his sandals and not needing the use of his walking stick. This probably signifies the importance of the bond between St. Francis and Christ. The plants also have a significant meaning as well; and according to Marilyn Lavin, Meiss states, they would not have been found in a convent garden for cooking, but used for medicinal purposes (source). Being that St. Francis was
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