The Mystery of the Missing The Mystery of the Missing StigmataStigmata

C J Manning

April 2003

C J Manning

April 2003

The MysteryThe Mystery The St Lucy Altarpiece by Domenico Veneziano, c

1445 Church of Santa Lucia dei Magnoli, Florence,

Italy All commentaries name the monk as ‘St Francis of

Assisi’ In art of the 15th century and earlier, St Francis

always shown with stigmata The monk in the St Lucy Altarpiece has no

stigmata

The The St Lucy AltarpieceSt Lucy Altarpiece and its and its five predella paintingsfive predella paintings

The St Lucy Altarpiece, assembled One predella painting each to IDENTIFY the five

main figures ‘St Francis’, St John the Baptist, Madonna &

Child, St Zenobius, St Lucy Predella of St Francis Receiving the Stigmata used

to identify the monk in the St Lucy Altarpiece as ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

The The St Lucy AltarpieceSt Lucy Altarpiece assembled assembled

AltarpieceAltarpiece monk & predella monk & predella The predella painting of St Francis

Receiving the Stigmata IDENTIFIES the Altarpiece monk

Can only be one of the two figures All sources identify monk as

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

St Francis of AssisiSt Francis of Assisi Francis of Assisi, born c 1181, died 1226

Benedictine and other monastic Orders resented for their wealth, arrogance and isolation from the general population

Francis adopted

– Poverty

– Penance, brotherly love & peace

– Preaching

– Work with the poor, sick and destitute

St Francis of AssisiSt Francis of Assisi Francis founded the Order of the Friars Minor (Franciscan

Monks)

Many miracles attributed to St Francis

He is known for his love of nature and receiving the stigmata in 1224

St Francis canonized as a saint in 1228

St Francis of AssisiSt Francis of Assisi Franciscan Order extremely popular within the Church and

with the people

“And thus, without strife or schism, God’s Poor Little Man of Assisi became the means of renewing the youth of the Church and of initiating the most potent and popular religious movement since the beginnings of Christianity.”

Florence a major Franciscan centre.

The Stigmata of St FrancisThe Stigmata of St Francis

Stigmata are the wounds of Christ when He was crucified– in His hands and feet where He was nailed to

the Cross, and – in His right side where He was stabbed by the

Roman’s spear.

St Francis miraculously received these same Holy Wounds from the flying winged figure of Christ

The Stigmata of St FrancisThe Stigmata of St Francis

The most significant attribute of St Francis

The Stigmata are “the seal of St Francis’ earthly mission and confirmation of his divine calling.”

Art works of St FrancisArt works of St Francis

Simone Martini, St Francis, 1317

Giovanni da Milano, St Francis of Assisi, c 1360

Domenico Veneziano, St John the Baptist & St Francis, (detail) 1454

feature the STIGMATA

Notice the gestureNotice the gesture

Close-up of stigmataClose-up of stigmataof Domenico’s of Domenico’s

St FrancisSt Francis

But, NO STIGMATA on the monk But, NO STIGMATA on the monk in the in the St Lucy AltarpieceSt Lucy Altarpiece

No wounds, scars, rays or marks of any sort– Back of hand

– Palm of other hand

– Torso hidden by sleeve

– Tops of feet hidden by robe

NO STIGMATA , detailNO STIGMATA , detail

NO marks, wounds, scars, rays or projections on– Palm of hand

holding book

– Back of near hand

– Figure’s right side (covered by sleeve)

– Either feet (tops covered by robe)

Mystery #1: The Stigmata are Mystery #1: The Stigmata are missing without explanationmissing without explanation

Researched art historical sources and texts– Do NOT explain reasons for naming the

Altarpiece monk as St Francis– Do NOT observe or mention missing stigmata– Do NOT explain missing stigmata.

Mystery #2: The Mystery #2: The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk monk does not look like the predella’s St does not look like the predella’s St

FrancisFrancis

Unwrinkled

Full, dark hair

Wrinkled

Sparse, grey hair

Altarpiece monk Predella’s St Francis

Young Old

And does not look like And does not look like Domenico’s other St FrancisDomenico’s other St Francis

Unwrinkled

Full, dark hair

Wrinkled

Sparse, grey hair

Altarpiece monkDomenico Veneziano, St Francis, 1454

Young Old

Possible explanations for these Possible explanations for these mysteriesmysteries

A.A. Not every painting of St Francis shows the Stigmata

B.B. The Altarpiece monk is a young St Francis, or

C.C. The Altarpiece monk is NOT St Francis

A.A. “Not every painting of St “Not every painting of St Francis shows the Stigmata”Francis shows the Stigmata”

Such paintings are ONLY of episodes in St Francis’ life before he received the Stigmata

Episodes of St Francis before Episodes of St Francis before receiving Stigmatareceiving Stigmata

‘Giotto’ Dream of the Palace (detail) Scene 3 of the Legend of St Francis, c 1297

‘Giotto’ Renunciation of Worldly Goods (detail) Scene 5 of the Legend of St Francis, c 1297

‘Giotto’ Sermon to the Birds (detail) Scene 15 of the Legend of St Francis, c 1297

No Stigmata

Episode of St Francis after Episode of St Francis after receiving the Stigmatareceiving the Stigmata

‘Giotto’ Death & Ascension of St Francis (detail) Scene 20 of the Legend of St Francis, 1300

Answer to “Answer to “A.A. Not every painting of St Not every painting of St Francis shows the Stigmata”Francis shows the Stigmata”

The St Lucy Altarpiece is NOT an episode of St Francis’ life before receiving the Stigmata, and

Is a full length ‘portrait’ of the saint, like paintings by Uccello, Simone and Domenico

Therefore, the Altarpiece monk should display the Stigmata.

So, this explanation does not apply to the St Lucy Altarpiece monk.

Answer to “Answer to “A.A. Not every painting of St Not every painting of St Francis shows the Stigmata”Francis shows the Stigmata”

B.B. “The “The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk is a monk is a young St Francis”young St Francis”

The figures in the St Lucy Altarpiece deemed to be in Heaven after their life on earth

All other figures in the Altarpiece are NOT younger than in their corresponding predella painting

All other figures in the Altarpiece are NOT younger than in their corresponding predella

painting St John the Baptist:

A youth in predella A mature man in the Altarpiece

All other figures in the Altarpiece are NOT younger than in their corresponding predella

painting Mary:

Newly pregnant in the Annunciation predella

A new mother in the Altarpiece

All other figures in the Altarpiece are NOT younger than in their corresponding predella

painting St Zenobius:

Performed miracles before becoming bishop in the predella

In full bishop’s robes, mitre & staff in the Altarpiece

All other figures in the Altarpiece are NOT younger than in their corresponding predella

painting St Lucy: At the moment of her death in the predella

•Wears the same dress & mantle in the Altarpiece

•Holds the palm branch of martyrdom

Answer to “Answer to “B.B. The The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk is a young St Francis”monk is a young St Francis”

It would break the logic and the pattern to show St Francis younger in the Altarpiece than in the predella painting

Therefore, the Altarpiece monk cannot be a young St Francis.

C.C. “The “The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk is NOT monk is NOT St Francis”St Francis”

Answer to A: The Altarpiece monk is NOT an episode of St Francis before receiving the Stigmata

Answer to B: The Altarpiece monk is NOT a young St Francis

There are no name-tags to identify the Altarpiece figures, including the monk

The predella paintings identify each of the figures in the Altarpiece

The St Francis Receiving the Stigmata predella shows two people

The Altarpiece monk can only be one of the two people

continuedcontinued

The Altarpiece monk is not St Francis:

– He does not look like the predella St Francis

– He does not have the Stigmata

– He is not gesturing to the Stigmata on his side (more like gesture of mea culpa), and

Therefore, he must be the other man in the predella painting-Brother Leo of Assisi.

Answer is Answer is CC: The : The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk is NOT St Francismonk is NOT St Francis

Brother Leo of Assisi & Brother Leo of Assisi & St Francis receiving the StigmataSt Francis receiving the Stigmata

Brother Leo was the intimate companion, confessor and secretary of St Francis

Went into the mountains with the elderly St Francis

At St Francis’ instructions, opened the Bible three times at random

Each time, opened to passages about Christ’s crucifixion

Some say, Brother Leo witnessed the six-winged seraphim giving St Francis the Stigmata

Brother Leo saw and tended the bleeding wounds on St Francis, and wrote a description of them

Brother Leo of Assisi & Brother Leo of Assisi & St Francis receiving the StigmataSt Francis receiving the Stigmata

The The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk is Brother monk is Brother Leo of AssisiLeo of Assisi

He witnessed the Stigmatization of St Francis

He looks like Brother Leo in the predella– Same young, unlined face– Same full, dark hair

He holds the Bible open in his hand, looks like he is reading, as he did in the legend

He has a halo

He stands modestly-head and eyes down

Brother Leo witnessed St Francis receiving the Brother Leo witnessed St Francis receiving the StigmataStigmata

‘Giotto’, 1308 Sassetta, 1437-44The Bible

Brother Leo witnessed St Francis receiving the Brother Leo witnessed St Francis receiving the StigmataStigmata

Gentile da Fabriano, 1420 The Bible

Domenico Veneziano, St Francis Receiving the Stigmata Predella

TheThe Altarpiece Altarpiece monk monk looks like looks like Brother Leo in the predellaBrother Leo in the predella

Same young, unlined face Same full, dark hair

The The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk holds the monk holds the BibleBible

Bible is important to the Stigmatization of St FrancisBible is important to the Stigmatization of St Francis He holds the Bible open in his hand, looks like he is reading, as he did in the

legend Bible is next to Brother Leo in the predella

The The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk has a halo monk has a halo

Brother Leo was beatified by the Franciscan Order Named “Blessed Leo” in manuscript book of Franciscan

Martyrology dated c 1300 A blessed or beatified person is worshipped locally A beatified or blessed person, who is canonized by the pope as a

saint, is worshipped throughout the entire church

The The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk has a halo monk has a halo

Only saints and beatified persons are permitted to be shown with a halo

Other art shows beatified person with halo So, Brother Leo is entitled to be shown with a halo in the

St Lucy Altarpiece.

Pacino di Bonaguida Blessed Gherardo at Prayer

The The AltarpieceAltarpiece monk stands monk stands modestlymodestly

He stands modestly-head and eyes down

Not boldly like St John

Modesty is appropriate for Modesty is appropriate for Brother Leo in the Brother Leo in the AltarpieceAltarpiece

He is a minor saint In the presence of major holy figures

– the Madonna & Child,– St John the Baptist and St Zenobius, two patron

saints of Florence, and – St Lucy, the namesake of the church

Brother Leo is important enough Brother Leo is important enough to be in the to be in the AltarpieceAltarpiece

He acted as God’s instrument in opening the Bible to passages of Christ’s crucifixion prior to St Francis receiving the Stigmata

Brother Leo is important enough Brother Leo is important enough to be in the to be in the AltarpieceAltarpiece

He was closely connected to St Francis

– Intimate companion

– Witness of the Stigmata

– St Francis wrote “The Perfect Joy” to him when Leo was in despair

– St Francis gave him his robes when he died

Brother Leo is important enough Brother Leo is important enough to be in the to be in the AltarpieceAltarpiece

He played a large role in the Franciscan Order

– He was one of the Order’s most enthusiastic workers

– He had close connections with St Clare (who worked with St Francis and also founded a monastic order)

Brother Leo’s role in the Brother Leo’s role in the AltarpieceAltarpiece

Brother Leo was a local, beatified saint

– His life and deeds would have been familiar to the congregation

As a minor, beatified saint, Brother Leo is “closer” to the congregation than the other, major holy figures of the Madonna and the patron saints

The figure of Brother Leo is the same size as the other figures in the Altarpiece

Brother Leo’s role in the Brother Leo’s role in the AltarpieceAltarpiece

Therefore, the congregation could

– take pride in the local, Blessed Brother Leo

– related more to Brother Leo than the other figures, and

– ask for his intercession with the higher, holier figures

Brother Leo has a valid role as one of the figures in the St Lucy Altarpiece.

Possible connection between Church of Santa Possible connection between Church of Santa Lucia dei Magnoli & Brother LeoLucia dei Magnoli & Brother Leo

Church next door to Santa Lucia Hospital (no longer standing) Hospital site of famous meeting of St Francis & St Dominic Monk on the left is most likely Brother Leo

Benozzo Gozzoli, Meeting of St Francis & St Dominic, 1452

Church of Santa Lucia dei Magnoli, Florence

Information not availableInformation not available

There are no inscriptions in the Altarpiece that identify any of the figures

There are no primary source documents about the commissioning of the Altarpiece

– No contracts

– No letters from any patron

– No documents by the artist, Domenico Veneziano

– No church documents covering the time period 1430-1450.

More research neededMore research needed To show

– Role of Brother Leo in the Franciscan Order

– If any ‘cultus’ or religious following of Brother Leo in or around Florence

– Details of when, how and why Brother Leo was beatified

– Connection of the Church of Santa Lucia dei Magnoli to the Franciscan Order and Brother Leo in particular

ConclusionConclusion The mystery of the missing stigmata is solved

The monk in the St Lucy Altarpiece is not St Francis of Assisi

But is his companion and witness, Blessed Brother Leo of Assisi.

Copyright April 2003 CJ Manning

BibliographyBibliography Firenze.net. <http://english.firenze.net/> 9 March 2003. Jameson, (Mrs) A. Legends of the Monastic Orders. London:

Longmans, Green, and Co., 1880. New Advent. The Catholic Encyclopedia.

<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/> 9 March 2003. Smart, Alistair. The Assisi Problem and the Art of Giotto.

Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971. St Patrick and St Lawrence Parish. “Why Do We Do That?”

About Our Faith. <http://www.stpatrick-stlawrence.org/why_do_we_do_that.htm> 8 March 2003.

BibliographyBibliography The Franciscan Experience. “9.13 Leo of Assisi”.

Franciscan Saints and Mystics (1). <http://198.62.75.5/www1/ofm/fra/FRAsnt01.html> 9 March 2003.

Web Gallery of Art. <http://gallery.euroweb.hu/index1.html> 8 March 2003.

Wohl, Hellmut. The Paintings of Domenico Veneziano. New York and London: New York University Press, 1980.