Baciccia, Vision of St Francis Xavier
Photogallery
Baciccia, Vision of St Francis Xavier
The small painting shows St Francis Xavier in the foreground with a crucifix held close to his breast, surrounded by angels and cherubs who witness his agony. It is a study for the altarpiece dedicated to the Saint in the church of St Andrea al Quirinale. The study, dating to about 1675, is done with a rapid technique, the figures are only sketched without any definition of particulars and completed with swift strokes of warm colour. It shows some variations with respect to the final composition.