The official painter of duke Charles III, and a contemporary of Jacques Callot and Georges de La Tour, Jacques de Bellange mainly painted religious, popular and mythological works during his career. Around 1600, Christine de Salm (whose coat of arms appears in the lower left-hand register of the painting), wife of François de Vaudémont - son of Charles III - commissioned the artist to paint the Ravissement de saint François, also known as La Stigmatisation de saint François or L'Extase de saint François.

A direct reference to the deep faith of the Lorraine people in this saintly figure, this scene shows Saint Francis kneeling in the centre of the composition, gazing up at the sky. The saint is easily identifiable by his attributes: he is dressed in the Franciscan robe, tied at the waist with a three-knotted cord, and wears the stigmata of Christ's Passion on his hands, feet and chest. Two angels on either side support him. The chromatic treatment of the angels is highly unusual, revealing the mannerism of the late 16th century.

The scene, overlooked by a small seraph bathed in divine light, takes place on Mount Verna, where the Poverello had retired towards the end of his life. Only Brother Leo seems unaware of the scene unfolding near him.

Bellange painted a famous scene from the life of the saint, whose originality lies essentially in its pictorial treatment, as evidenced by the red wings of the angel facing Saint Francis, enhanced in places by small touches of green. The artist demonstrated a real talent for colour, which makes this work particularly remarkable. Best known for his engraving skills, he was nevertheless responsible for restoring the frescoes in the Galerie des Cerfs in Nancy's ducal palace. Many of this artist's works have now disappeared, but it is possible to get an idea of his style by studying his engravings.