Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Saint Francis
El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) Greek
Not on view
This head of Saint Francis was cut from a larger canvas. Originally it showed the saint half-length against a nocturnal sky, staring at a luminous cloud while gesturing to a skull and crucifix in front of him. During his lifetime, El Greco was famous for pictures of Saint Francis of Assisi, many painted entirely by the master’s assistants. Here the execution is of unexpected quality, with a play of textures and highlights typical of El Greco’s later years.
