Caravaggio

The painting said his name was Saint Francis of Assisi . I didn’t recognize him. He looked to be in a pit, but he couldn’t have been Daniel – there were no lions, only a skull and a cross. Must have been after Jesus rose then. No one would carry around a cross for fun; people don’t carry around miniature electric chairs. It looked like the end, like he was put in this dark place to die alone. He’s not even looking at the cross, but cradling the skull in an embrace that hints of fondness, familiarity. Perhaps he’s ready to go. His holey, tattered, and dirty robe doesn’t suggest he’s having very much fun, and the hallow around is head is like that of those portrayed in heaven. Perhaps he’s leaving the world in this very moment and heaven is bleeding through, there is a distinct ray of light that has no seen source running left to right diagonal across the canvas illuminating cross and skull with equality. Latter I learn the painting is unrecorded, and has been given many names. Saint Francis in Meditation, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis in prayer. He didn’t look like he was praying – his mouth was closed and Biblically Christians are loud when they speak to the Father. Why the skull? I expected him to be a member of the Cappuccini, bones and all. But he founded the Franciscans, an order of poverty and humility. The robe fits than, but the skull? Perhaps it was painted for the Cappuccini. Though they say it is difficult to distinguish the original from later copies, John Gash is said to have identified a version in the Chiesa dei Cappuccini. But why would the Cappuccini commission the painting of the founder of another order? Do we have paintings of other nations’ presidents in the White House? There are no portraits of the Pope in the Lutheran churches back home. Perhaps the two orders are connected in a why I do not know and can’t seem to find on the internet. Like so many other things concerning Rome, more research is required.