SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI, IN ECSTASY, IN THE WILDERNESS.

Depicted kneeling in a cave in the wilderness, his expression uplifted in ecstasy, before the Crucifix, and holding a skull. 

Etching, by the Flemish master print-maker and painter CORNELIS BLOEMAERT, (Born Utrecht 1603; died Rome 1692) who worked extensively in Italy.

A  reverse composition of the painting by the Italian master GUIDO RENI (1575-1642) now in the Coppola Chapel of the Girolamini church in Naples.

Published in Rome by Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi (Io. Iacobus de Rubeis), 1627-91, arguably the leading print publisher of his day. 

Fully captioned in Latin at the bottom, with the papal privilege line and a pious quotation from Psalm 118.

SIZE: Large. 36 x 23 cms.

CONDITION: Very good. Printed on "laid" paper. Trimmed to narrow margins on or about the platemark line, not into the image. Very feint traces of a horizontal fold, hardly noticeable. Reinforced on the back, and traces of old hinges at the top. A nice clean and crisp example. See my photos of the reverse and on the lightbox.

REFERENCE: Many of the leading museums have this lovely print. Here's a selection for you to check online:

British Museum 1874,0508.1826

Wellcome Collection London ref. 574065i

Central Museum Utrecht 6661

Philadelphia Museum of Art ref. 1985-52-29450

Literature:

Hollstein II, p.73, no.43

Le Blanc, 43

Dutuit 33

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