St. Francis receiving the stigmata

El Greco painted numerous versions of Saint Francis receiving the stigmata, returning to this subject throughout his career in Toledo. The scene shows the saint kneeling on Mount Alverna as rays of light descend from a vision of Christ, imprinting the wounds of crucifixion onto Francis's hands, feet, and side. The dramatic night setting intensifies the supernatural encounter.

El Greco's elongated Mannerist figures stretch upward as if drawn toward heaven. Francis's brown habit flows in agitated folds while his face registers ecstatic suffering. Brother Leo, his companion, often appears nearby, either witnessing or sleeping through the miracle. The artist used such subjects to explore his distinctive vision: bodies becoming almost immaterial, earthly gravity overcome by spiritual force.

The popularity of Saint Francis in Counter-Reformation Spain created steady demand for such images. El Greco's workshop produced multiple versions, making precise attribution and dating challenging. The subject perfectly suited his artistic temperament, allowing him to depict the moment when flesh receives divine wounds and human experience touches the supernatural. These paintings now hang in museums worldwide, representing El Greco's ability to transform religious subjects into visions of transcendence.