Roundel with Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata

The Roundel with Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata by Albrecht Dürer is a superb example of early 16th-century German glass painting, dating approximately between 1505 and 1515. The work is executed in colorless glass, masterfully utilizing silver stain and vitreous paint to achieve intricate detail typically associated with panel painting or graphic arts. This form of painted glass roundel was exceptionally popular in Germany and the wider Holy Roman Empire during the Renaissance, often installed in domestic settings or monastic chapter houses to allow private viewing of religious subjects.

The composition centers on the foundational narrative of Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most venerated men in the Catholic tradition, kneeling as he receives the stigmata. The scene is set on the barren peak of Mount La Verna, emphasizing the ascetic solitude necessary for the miraculous event. Dürer’s precise rendering defines the voluminous folds of the saint’s habit and the deeply detailed features of his face. The subtle use of silver stain creates warm, golden tones that delineate the rocky landscape and define the habit, while the vitreous paint provides the necessary dark outlines and shadows, giving the piece a graphic quality highly reminiscent of Dürer’s famed output in copper engraving and woodcut prints.

This meticulous craftsmanship exemplifies the high artistic standards of the German Renaissance master. Although Dürer often provided designs for glass painters, the direct execution of this piece is highly attributed to his workshop or based closely on his designs, confirming his influence across multiple media. This rare and significant artwork forms an important part of the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because Dürer’s powerful imagery was widely circulated through affordable prints during his lifetime, the visual language found in this specialized roundel is frequently encountered and remains widely available for study and reference in the public domain.