Saint Francis in Meditation, by Caravaggio (1606, c.)

Saint Francis in Meditation, by Caravaggio (1606, c.)

This painting portrays Saint Francis meditating. He is dressed in a brown habit and holds a skull with his hands. A cross appears lying underneath his hands holding the skull.
The skull does not present any defining gender traits. However, the way Saint Francis holds and contemplates the skull resembles that of a man in love. This seems to fit the idea of Sorella morte ("Sister death"), as it is how he refers to death. (See Sister death, by Assisi (1224))

Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi da (1571-1610)

1606, c.

Oil on canvas.
Dimensions: 123 × 92,5 cm