Saint Francis of Assisi

The diagonal line formed by the hands of Saint John and the Baby Jesus are an unmistakable reflection of the literal meaning of the Gospel. There is nothing to distract the viewer's attention; the dark, flat background against which the figures are silhouetted makes no allusion to the setting—the River Jordan. They are meaningful archetypes, painted very skillfully but lacking in naturalism; symbols that are subordinate to the message. The body of Jesus is not that different from the artist's Eves and his Venus. In fact, he has practically reproduced the body and gesture of the Eve in the Uffizi Gallery and the Venus in Copenhagen. The attributes that distinguish him as a symbol of salvation can be seen over and over again in the artist's works.