St Francis Comforted by an Angel

After about 1612, Ribalta's art begins to reflect the heightened, anguished spirituality of the city, but it was not until a visit to Madrid around 1619—20 that he found the way to channel the religious fervour into great works of art. In Madrid, Ribalta experienced the Florentine naturalism of the Carducho brothers. (It is also possible that Pedro Orrente played a part in directing Ribalta toward a greater naturalism.) Indeed, his St Francis Comforted by a Musical Angel, painted around 1620 for an altar in the church of the Capuchinos of Valencia, is a direct descendant of Bartolome Carducho's Death of St Francis. This painting is purged of all vestiges of mannerism and uses the powerful force of light to enhance the presence of figures and objects alike. It also displays a new fluidity and confidence in composition and draftsmanship: the angel, dramatically framed by fluttering drapery, points the lute like a crossbow at the recoiling body of the saint, who is startled by the heavenly intruder.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 33 minutes): Michael Haydn: St Francis Mass