Death of St. Francis of Assisi
PLACE/DATE
Portugal, 2nd half of 17th century
MATERIALS
Polychrome terracotta
DIMENSIONS
Alt. 163 cm
INV
ESC.SPA.17
This sculpture group in natural size, composed of twelve Franciscan figures in veneration of St. Francis of Assisi at the moment of his passing, is located inside a vitrine in the space of the old entrance to the Convent of São Pedro de Alcântara, where it would have been made upon its construction in 1670.
There is an account of it, dating from 1705, praising the quality of the modelling and the dramatic effect of the figures, carved to such perfection that “they all seem to be alive and the saint seems to be dying”. Despite the fragility of the material in which it was made, terracotta was much used in Portuguese Baroque sculpture, especially in the representation of the transit of saints in Franciscan monasteries, as is also the case here. This was, after all, a poor material, in tune with the principles of this monastic order, but of great symbolism. Its production has been associated with the workshops of master barristers from Alcobaça.
