Madonna of St. Francis

painting by Correggio

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The "Madonna of St. Francis" is an altarpiece painted by Correggio around 1514. It is one of his early documented works and was commissioned for the church of San Francesco in Correggio, Italy. Correggio, born Antonio Allegri, was a significant Italian Renaissance painter known for his mastery of light and shadow, influencing later Baroque and Rococo artists. His style, characterized by soft contours and atmospheric effects, drew inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci and the frescoes of Michelangelo and Raphael. While the "Madonna of St. Francis" is an early piece, Correggio's mature works, such as the frescoes in Parma Cathedral, are celebrated for their dramatic illusionism and innovative use of foreshortening.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Correggio
Early life and career
an altarpiece of the Madonna of St. Francis, was commissioned for San Francesco at Correggio in 1514. The best-known works of his youth are a group of devotional pictures that became increasingly luscious in color. They include the Nativity of Jesus with St. Elisabeth and the Young St. John…
Read More
an altarpiece of the Madonna of St. Francis, was commissioned for San Francesco at Correggio in 1514. The best-known works of his youth are a group of devotional pictures that became increasingly luscious in color. They include the Nativity of Jesus with St. Elisabeth and the Young St. John…
Read More