SASSETTA
(b. 1394, Siena, d. 1450, Siena)

The Ecstasy of St Francis (detail)

1437-44
Tempera on wood
Villa i Tatti, Settignano

The head of the saint in ecstasy is evidence of Sassetta's highly controlled pictorial technique in tempera. Every eyelash is distinguished as are the hairs of his beard. Yet the slightly odd shape of the head has a geometric and even abstract quality.