Flemish Master (17th Century), Saint Francis in Ecstasy Supported by an Angel

A superb 17th-century oil painting on copper by a highly skilled Flemish Master, depicting the profound spiritual moment of Saint Francis of Assisi in ecstasy. The saint is portrayed with remarkable emotional depth, his fainting form tenderly caught by a celestial angel.
The scene is set against a dramatic, darkened background that highlights the luminous flesh tones and the intricate textures of the saint's habit. Traditional symbols of devotion and penance—a skull, an open scripture, and a crucifix—are meticulously rendered in the foreground, characteristic of the Counter-Reformation aesthetic.
Painted on a copper plate, a medium prized by Flemish masters for its ability to support ultra-fine brushwork and to maintain the brilliance of the pigments over centuries without the cracking associated with wood or canvas. Oil on copper, 35 x 44 cm
The exquisite handling of light and the anatomical precision of the hands and facial expressions point to a master active in the circle of the great Antwerp schools. This work is a testament to the refined "Cabinet Painting" tradition, where small-scale works on copper were considered among the most prestigious items in a 17th-century collector’s Kunstkammer.