Saint Francis – The Wound and the Light

Created in the year of the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, this work reflects on the relevance of Francis in a time marked by great suffering.
After eight centuries, Saint Francis still has much to say to contemporary humanity. To me, he shows how a fragile and wounded soul can still find peace, harmony and light within creation, even in a wounded world.
I wanted to portray him not as a distant icon, but as a human presence: marked by the stigmata, close to nature, and inwardly turned toward God.
Through this painting, I seek a sacred realism capable of expressing suffering, tenderness, faith and the quiet strength of a soul open to light. Having previously exhibited at the London Art Biennale 2023, this work marks an important step in my artistic journey and in my research into contemporary sacred painting.