St Francis Marrying Poverty

Sacchi probably undertook the rare subject of Francis marrying Poverty at the request for Cardinal Francesco Barberini, who had a special devotion to Francis, his name saint. According to legend, Francis was walking in a street in Siena, when he encountered three similar women who represented the three virtues of the Franciscan order; poverty, chastity and obedience. Francis greeted them extending a particular welcome to poverty, saying, "you are welcome, Lady Poverty". The saint loved poverty and truly considered that virtue to be his wife: thus the legend of the saint's marriage to Poverty was born.

The format and measurements of the canvas remind us that the painting was originally meant as an altarpiece. The subject reminds one immediately of Sacchi's work at the Church of the Cappuccini, which the Barberini had decorated right at the beginning of the 1630's, and which still houses two important works by the artist.

Carried out during the years of Sacchi's polemical argument with Pietro da Cortona and the baroque style painting in general, this painting shows Sacchi radicalising his ideas. The result is a very simple composition based on two monumental figures set in an open landscape.

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