The litmus test. Saint Francis lying on the embers

Ca. 1787. Oil on canvas.
On display elsewhere

It is part of the series of thirty-three scenes from the Life of Saint Francis (Assisi, Italy, 1182-1226) painted for the basilica of San Francisco el Grande in Madrid. The painters José Camarón y Bonanat (1731-1803), Antonio Carnicero (1748-1814) and Manuel de la Cruz (1750-1792) were involved in this cycle, which belongs entirely to the Museo del Prado.

This scene, commissioned to its author for the decoration of the lower cloister, represents how while in Egypt, St. Francis is tempted by a beautiful woman, whom he rejects by submitting himself to the sacrifice of lying on an enormous brazier from which he emerged unharmed. Before this vision, the woman, repentant, converted to the faith of Christ.

Díez, José Luis (dir.), Pintura del Siglo XIX en el Museo del Prado: catálogo general, Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado, 2015, p.241

See work in timeline

Series

Vida de San Francisco. Claustro de la Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande, Madrid

RDF

Technical data

The litmus test. Saint Francis lying on the embers

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Inventory number: P003495
Author: Zacarías González Velázquez
Title: The litmus test. Saint Francis lying on the embers
Date: Ca. 1787
Technique: Oil
Support: Canvas
Dimension: Width: 270 cm; Height: 216.99998 cm
Series: Vida de San Francisco. Claustro de la Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande, Madrid
Provenance: Commission from the Patronage of the Basilica of Saint Francis the Great (Madrid) to the artist for the decoration of the lower cloister, 1786; Museo de la Trinidad, 1836–1872.
Entry date: 1872

Bibliography +

Ponz, Antonio, Viage de España. Vol. I, Joachin Ibarra, Madrid, 1793, pp. 109.

García Barriuso, Patrocinio, San Francisco el Grande de Madrid: aportación documental para su historia, Madrid, 1975, pp. 516, nº61.

Espinós, Adela; Orihuela, Mercedes y Royo Villanova, Mercedes, "El Prado disperso". Cuadros depositados en Madrid. I. Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande, Boletín del Museo del Prado, I, 1980, pp. 57.

Museo Nacional del Prado, Museo del Prado: inventario general de pinturas (II). Museo de la Trinidad, Museo del Prado, Espasa Calpe, Madrid, 1991, pp. nº1027.

Díez, José Luis (dir.), Pintura del Siglo XIX en el Museo del Prado: catálogo general, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, 2015, pp. 241.

Other inventories +

Inv. Museo de la Trinidad, Pintura. Núm. 1027.
1027. / Sn Fran.co desnudo sentado sobre el fuego a la dra se ven tres figs de maometanos admirando el milagro del sto figs de cuerpo entº y tamº nat.l / Fdo Zº Velazquez / Alto 2,16 1/2; ancho 2,72 / Id. id. id.