The artwork, titled “St. Francis in Ecstasy”, was created by Julian Schnabel in 1980. It belongs to the Neo-Expressionism art movement and is categorized as a religious painting.
In the artwork, a central figure, presumably St. Francis, is depicted in a rough, abstract style characteristic of Neo-Expressionism. The figure seems to be in a state of ecstasy, surrounded by a desolate, rocky landscape. The composition includes various earthy tones and textures, with the upper background illustrating distant mountains and the lower section displaying fragmented, circular shapes resembling stones or debris. The figure appears to be draped in tattered cloth, adding to the raw and tactile quality of the work. Notably, there are also several skulls nestled among the stones, lending a memento mori aspect to the painting. The overall tone conveys a sense of both spirituality and mortality.
