This illustrates an incident early in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. The saint’s father, a wealthy cloth merchant, was disturbed by his odd behavior and his giving away the family’s money. He appealed to the bishop of Assisi to discipline his son. According to Thomas of Celano:
When he had been led before the bishop, Francis neither delayed nor explained himself, but simply stripped off his clothes and threw them aside, giving them back to his father. He did not even keep his trousers, but stood there in front of everyone completely naked. The bishop, sensing his intention and admiring his constancy, rose and wrapped his arms around Francis, covering him with his own robe. He saw clearly that Francis was divinely inspired and that his action contained a mystery. Thus he became Francis’s helper, cherishing and comforting him.In this drawing, I followed closely the composition of a fresco attributed to Giotto. I wanted the entire drawing to reflect the words of the Sermon on the Mount that so strongly resonate in the life of St. Francis:
Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment? Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they?... And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.... Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.In reference to this, I decorated the border of the drawing and the saint’s halo, with ornament resembling a millefleur tapestry, filled with birds and flowers. A portion of the Sermon appears decorating the background architecture in a blackletter script. The saint’s father and his companions are dressed in fanciful turbans and robes with bold colors and patterns, suggesting the wealth of Solomon.
All of the decorative elements in this drawing - the damask patterns, the pseudo-Arabic trims, the Gothic tracery, the lettering and the tile - I designed myself.
Medium: Drawing, color ink on calfskin vellum
Dimensions: 7" square
Year: 2017
The original drawing was made on private commission.
Open-edition giclée prints of this drawing are available. You may use the buttons below to pay via PayPal, debit card, or credit card. Be sure to confirm the shipping address.
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Actual size art print: $53
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14" × 14" large print: $106
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200dpi digital download: $11
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See this page for additional ordering instructions and general information. If you want to pay via a check or money order, please e-mail me at danielmitsui@danielmitsui.com.
