BASILICA OF SAN FRANCESCO Upper Basilica Giotto 1

2:42

In the transept, you’ve seen the way Cimabue painted, illustrating the life of Christ and the Apocalypse. He used dramatic, visionary images, which are often difficult to interpret, and his painting style was too far removed from reality to be understood by the simpler folk who would be flocking to the church.

The decision was thus taken to bring in younger painters who were creating a simpler, more natural style, and were familiar with the fresco technique. It’s time at last to see how Giotto – one of the most talented “storytellers” of his time – depicted the life of Saint Francis, starting at the end of the wall on the right, near the transept.

The first episode, “The Homage of a Simple Man”, shows a man spreading a cloak before the saint, in the square of Assisi, opposite the Temple of Minerva. The scene is perfectly clear, and requires no explanation. Giotto’s artistic language is simple, straightforward, and with a wealth of references to reality, not only in the human figures and their poses and expressions, but also in the illustration of the setting, with the city of Assisi and its buildings clearly visible and recognizable. The buildings are shown as they were in Giotto’s time, as are the characters. For the temple, however, he painted five columns instead of six, so it would not take up too much space in the center of the scene.

The next episode shows “Francis Giving his Mantle to a Poor Man”. This is hugely different from the painting on the same theme by Simone Martini in the Lower Church: here, everything appears to be happening naturally, and there are no sophisticated, ornamental details, such as the horse’s mane which you may remember. The outline of the mountains meets above the head of the saint, indicating that he is the central figure in the story.

In the following fresco, entitled “Renunciation of Worldly Goods”, observe how Giotto has separated Francis, with the church and the priests, from his father, with the palace and the bourgeoisie. In the empty space in the center, the Saint’s hands are joined together to underline the importance of prayer.

The fresco entitled “Exorcism of the Demons at Arezzo” follows the same pattern: the saint appears to draw energy from the church, which is then released in the gesture of exorcising the demons.

An interesting fact: Giotto also had a sharp sense of humor. It is said that during his time in Cimabue’s workshop, he painted a fly on the nose of one of Cimabue’s figures, and that the artist did not realize until he tried to brush it away with his hand.

TravelMate recommends
Choose the option
that suits you
Buy Assisi
Permanently unlock the app with all content of Assisi for
€ 7,99
Buy
Promotion
Unlock audio content of all available cities for 3 years at the promotional price
€ 19,99
Buy
Don't miss out!
ASSISI INTRODUCTION
1 Audio

ASSISI INTRODUCTION

This small, agreeable medieval town sits on the western flank of Mount Subasio, and its privileged position looking onto the Umbrian Valley allows visitors to admire breath-taking views of gentle...
THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE
1 Audio

THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE

The most common starter is a sample of the delicious Umbrian salamis and cold cuts, such as Capocollo, from the back of the pig, prosciutto from Norcia, or Ventresca, a local type of pancetta, or...
SAINT FRANCIS
1 Audio

SAINT FRANCIS

The son of a prosperous fabric merchant, Pietro di Bernardone, and a noblewoman named Giovanna, in his youth he took part in the wars with the nearby cities, and was captured and imprisoned for a...
BASILICA OF SAN FRANCESCO
9 Audio

BASILICA OF SAN FRANCESCO

What you’re looking at now is the facade, with a simple, double-pitched roof, a portal with a Gothic-style pointed arch, a large rose window half-way up and a smaller rose window above it, to...
HOUSE WHERE SAINT FRANCIS WAS BORN
1 Audio

HOUSE WHERE SAINT FRANCIS WAS BORN

Opposite it, there is the seventeenth-century facade of the Chiesa Nuova, or “new church”. Bear with me, and listen to the translation of the phrase in Latin at the top of the portal,...
PIAZZA DEL COMUNE
3 Audio

PIAZZA DEL COMUNE

In medieval towns and cities in Italy, the most important buildings looked onto the square. Those you can see here indeed date back to the Middle Ages; they’re the same ones you saw, or will see...
BASILICA OF SANTA CHIARA
2 Audio

BASILICA OF SANTA CHIARA

The Basilica has a very simple facade, divided into three parts by two horizontal cornices; in the center is a magnificent rose window embellished with a lace-like decoration. The only adornment is...
CATHEDRAL OF SAN RUFINO
1 Audio

CATHEDRAL OF SAN RUFINO

If you’re thinking the inside is much less austere than the facade, you’re right: it is bright, plastered and well-lit, because it was completely renovated in the 16th century in...
ABBEY OF SAN PIETRO
1 Audio

ABBEY OF SAN PIETRO

If you’ve already visited other churches in Assisi, you’ll find this one familiar. The facade is divided into regular horizontal and vertical surfaces, embellished with elegant rose...
ROCCA
1 Audio

ROCCA

Let me begin by telling you about the earliest information we have about this fortress, so you can draw your own conclusions. In the last years of the 12th century, Frederick Barbarossa, head of the...
SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI IN PORZIUNCOLA
1 Audio

SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI IN PORZIUNCOLA

You may be wondering what the enormous building in front of you has to do with a modest little church, and you will have guessed that it can’t be the one I’ve been talking about....
WOODLAND OF SAINT FRANCIS
1 Audio

WOODLAND OF SAINT FRANCIS

Just imagine, until 2008, this was an abandoned place, turned into an illegal dump. When the Trust received it as a gift, it had to clear it of over 30 tonnes of rubbish, restore the historical...
SANCTUARY OF SAN DAMIANO
1 Audio

SANCTUARY OF SAN DAMIANO

It was 1205 when the young Francis, who had recently given up his plans to leave for the Fourth Crusade as a knight, found himself passing the church of San Damiano.Erected a few centuries earlier,...
TravelMate App
DOWNLOAD NOW
THE TRAVELMATE APP
Purchase your activation code, download the TravelMate App, and turn your smartphone into your personal travel companion!
Listen to audio guides about the wonders of the world with TravelMate.
HAVE FUN!