Saint Francis of Assisi, engraving after Guido Reni

What it is

This is an engraving of Saint Francis of Assisi. The catalogue describes it as an engraving after a painting by Guido Reni, so the print copies Reni's work rather than being his own image. The engraver is not named in the record. The print is held by the Wellcome Collection in the United Kingdom.

Francis kneels in a rocky landscape, holding a crucifix and gazing down at an open book beside a skull. A rope cord hangs from his waist, and a tree and mountains appear behind him. The caption below reads S. Francesco d'Assisi.

Why it matters

Francis died in 1226, and this print was made far later, when his image was widely copied. Prints like this carried a saint's likeness to many people who could not see the original painting. The skull is a memento mori, a reminder of death, which shows how 17th-century religious art often taught viewers about mortality.

Look closer

• What objects does Francis hold and look at, and what might they say about his life?
• Who made this copy, and why would a publisher want many copies of a famous painting?
• What does the print leave out about the real landscape and daily life of Francis?