本作主要描繪聖母子顯現於法蘭西斯教派創始者─聖方濟（Saint Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226）的面前，畫家採用直式對角線的構圖方式，清楚的呈現人物在宗教地位的層級意涵，聖母瑪利亞和聖子位於最上方，接著是採跪姿、凝望聖子的聖方濟，圍繞在聖母與聖方濟身旁的小天使群及最後位於聖方濟身後的年輕修士，雙手分別拿著十字架及聖餐杯（chalice）。

畫面看似荒涼，罕無人煙的景象與置於地上的骷顱頭與十字架影射聖方濟一人在山丘上進行禱告，而一旁的書可能是聖方濟的著作，在禱告的過程，聖母瑪利亞和聖子顯現於聖方濟面前，聖方濟身上滲血的聖痕影射耶穌為人類而受的釘刑及類比聖方濟在天主教中革新的重要身份。

著白衣黑袍的年輕道明修會修士，頭部泛著光暈，望向眼前的神聖景象，手中所拿的十字與聖餐杯同時影射耶穌受難及其為人類贖罪所流神聖的血。

整幅作品除了運用對角線構圖外，畫家多明尼克‧皮歐拉（Domenico Piola, 1627/28-1703）更擅用飛躍的天使群及人物服飾飛揚與流暢的皺褶形式強調出畫面整體的動態感，是非常典型巴洛克式（Baroque）的表現手法。

皮歐拉的繪畫表現深受卡佩里諾（Giovanni Domenico Cappellino, 1580-1651）和卡斯帝利歐內（Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, 1609-1664）作品的影響，偏好盛大磅礡的構圖形式及上述人物肢體、服飾波浪舞動的形式。(蔡敏玲)

Madonna and Child Adored by Saint Francis of Assisi depicts the Holy Mother and Child appearing before the founder of the Franciscan order, Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226). The artist employs a diagonal visual composition to indicate the religious status and importance of the subjects. The Holy Mother and Child are positioned right at the top, then below them is the kneeling Saint Francis gazing at the Holy Child. Surrounding the Holy Mother and Saint Francis are a group of cherubs, and then finally behind Saint Francis is a young monk. In the monk's hands are a cross and a chalice.

The desolate and empty setting with a skull and a cross indicates Saint Francis praying on a hillside alone. The book to the side represents the works of Saint Francis of Assisi. While praying, the Holy Mother and Child appears in front of Saint Francis. The stigmata on Saint Francis reflect the wounds received by Jesus during his crucifixion and emphasize the eminence of Saint Francis in the reformed Catholic Church.

The young monk attired in white clothes and black robes has a halo around his head as he gazes at the Holy image before him. The cross and chalice in his hands signify the suffering of Jesus and his blood shed for the redemption of humanity.

Apart from the diagonal lines which structure the image, Domenico Piola (1627/28-1703) uses flying cherubs and flowing garments to emphasize a sense of dynamism in the scene. This is a classic Baroque art style similarly employed in the works of Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680).

Piola's works show the influence of Giovanni Domenico Cappellino (1580-1651) and Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (1609-1664). He favors large-scale settings, the diagonal arrangement of figures as described above, and flowing garments. (Min Ling TSAI)