Baptism of Saint Francis of Assisi

This painting by Antonio del Castillo shows the moment when an angel holds Saint Francis of Assisi while water is poured over his head during baptism. It dates from around 1663 and was commissioned for the cloister of the Franciscan convent of San Pedro el Real in Córdoba, as one of a series of canvases devoted to the saint's life. According to available accounts, the commission was financed by Gaspar de Herrera, a friend of the artist, and Herrera is thought to appear among the figures in the scene, a common practice for patrons of the period. The most unusual feature is the inscription at the bottom of the canvas, "Non Fecit Alfar" (Alfaro did not make this). With it, the painter made clear that the work was not by Juan de Alfaro, who had painted the first canvas of the series and signed it with his own name, against the custom of the time. The inscription shows how Córdoba painters guarded their authorship within a single set of works.

Painter

Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra

Date

1663

Medium

oil paint, canvas

Dimensions

196 × 248 cm

Museum

Museum of Fine Arts of Córdoba, Córdoba

Movement

Cordoba School of Painting

Genre

religious art

Depicts

baptismal font, angel, baptism, Francis of Assisi

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