St Francis
by BERLINGHIERI, Bonaventura, Tempera on wood
Bonaventura was one of the three painter sons of Berlinghiero Berlinghieri, a painter active between 1215 and 1242 in Luca. The painting of St Francis is one of the earliest altarpieces dedicated to the saint who was canonized in 1228. The Berlinghieri family exerted considerable influence on Florentine painting before Cimabue.
Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 33 minutes):
Michael Haydn: St Francis Mass