Giotto: the stories of S.Francesco

The "Stories of San Francesco" are a pictorial cycle painted in fresco.

They were probably painted between 1290 and 1295 by many masters of the time, at the head of which was Giotto.

The great scenes are 28, are inscribed in fake architecture and occupy the central band of the only nave of the basilica.

Each scene is 230 x 270 cm large.

The reading of the scenes begins near the altar along the right wall, then continues in the counter-facade and finally in the left wall until you come back near the altar.

There are depicted episodes from the life of the saint from youth to death to alleged posthumous miracles.

2.

"St.

Francis gives the cloak to a poor man" It is probably the first scene of the cycle to be painted.

In the foreground are St.

Francis with his horse and a beggar, who in reality, however, is a nobleman who has fallen into misery.

In the background you can see the walls of the city of Assisi and a monastery.

The landscape is harsh, with mountains without great vegetation and with the line of the two valleys that meets at the head of San Francesco.

Francis' habit is the same color as the sky, indicating man's holiness.

5.

"St.

Francis renounces earthly goods" On the left, Francesco's father is held by a man by the arm; he has a clenched fist and raises his robe as if to want to throw himself against the son who has betrayed his expectations; on the other side, Saint Francis stripped down prays and the hand of God appears in the clouds.

8.

"Apparition of St.

Francis on a chariot of fire" St.

Francis appears to his companions who were far away from him on a chariot of fire.

13.

"Presepe di Greccio" During the Christmas night of 1223, in Greccio (in the province of Rieti), Francesco recalled the birth of Jesus, organizing a living representation of that event.

During Mass, a flesh-and-blood child appeared in the cradle, which Francis took in his arms.

From this episode the tradition of the crib originated.

15.

"Preaching to the birds" While S.

Francesco was going to Bevagna he began to speak to the birds.

Probably this episode wanted to allude to Francis' ability to speak to the poor and marginalized.

19.

"Saint Francis receives the stigmata" In the harsh landscape of La Verna, near a small hermitage, an angel gives the stigmata to the Saint, with five rays of light that go to the points of Christ's wounds.

23.

"Greeting from Santa Chiara and her companions to San Francesco" In front of a beautiful Gothic facade, the body of San Francesco has just come out of the funeral and receives the heartfelt greeting of St.

Clare and the nuns, who with tender gestures embrace the body and kiss his hands.

Curious people are crowded in front of the church, so much so that one of them climbs a tree to be able to see better.