St. Francis of Assisi

Title: 

St. Francis of Assisi (The Modern Wayfarer)

Creator: 

Marek Valovič (b. 1974)

Nationality: 

Slovak

Date Created: 

2025

Oil on linen

Physical Dimensions: 

70.9 x 43.3 in. |180 x 110 cm (H x W)

Technique: 

Contemporary Tenebrism | Fusion

Materials: 

Executed on a heavyweight linen canvas, hand-primed in the studio with archival acrylic gesso to create a unique, organic surface. The process begins with a fusion underpainting, where pigments are mixed directly on the support using pressure-based techniques to anchor the initial tonal structure. This is followed by a superposition of multiple semi-transparent and transparent glazes, allowing light to pass through the strata of color to achieve a deep, tenebrist glow. The medium is a custom blend of Sun-thickened Linseed Oil and black oil. To ensure archival stability for centuries, the work is sealed with a professional dual-layer varnish system (Laropal A81 and Regalrez 1094). Infused with Tinuvin® UV stabilizers, this high-end protective shield prevents degradation and preserves the painting’s refractive depth for future generations.

Provenance: 

Artist's Studio | Slovakia.

Availability:

Available for private acquisition | Price upon request

Rights: 

© Marek Valovič. All rights reserved.

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The Artist's Perspective | Technical & Allegorical Context

This canvas is not a window into my world, but a mirror for yours. Before you weigh the skill of my hand, weigh the truth of your own reflection. In this 180x110cm work, I followed Caravaggio’s radical tradition of placing sacred figures in the unpolished reality of the present day. St. Francis, dressed in an open hoodie and jeans, is accompanied by the Wolf of Gubbio—a symbol of the untamed fears we must reconcile with. Technically, I focused on the organic textures of the wolf’s fur and the bird's feathers, contrasting them with the synthetic fibers of the modern clothing.
The painting utilizes a balanced oil texture, sealed with Laropal and Regalrez varnish for archival stability. Like Francis, who spoke to the birds and tamed the wolf, I am using the tools of the Old Masters to reconcile ancient spirituality with the complexities of contemporary existence.

The Hoodie & Jeans: 

Modern humility; the saint as a traveler of our time.

The Wolf of Gubbio: 

Representing the taming of our inner wildness and the peace between the human and natural worlds.

The Dove: 

A reference to the Sermon to the Birds and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

San Damiano: 

The actual church in Assisi where Francis heard the call: "Rebuild my house."