Heads and gazes: details from the fresco cycles

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by GIOTTO

In the Arena frescoes, in addition to the figures' gestures, and in coordination with them, their gazes communicate very clearly. Never before in painting had speaking with the eyes played such an important role in the pictorial narrative; never before was it as varied and nuanced as in these frescoes. There are looks that express tension, reverence, admiration, astonishment, joy, openness, and so on, but there are also introspective, questioning, skeptical, and searching gazes.

In this section we present details of the frescoes illustrating the above.

Preview	Picture Data	Info
	No. 1 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 1. Rejection of Joachim's Sacrifice (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 1 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 1. Rejection of Joachim's Sacrifice (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 1 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 1. Rejection of Joachim's Sacrifice (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 2 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 2. Joachim among the Shepherds (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 2 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 2. Joachim among the Shepherds (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 3 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 3. Annunciation to St Anne (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 3 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 3. Annunciation to St Anne (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 4 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 4. Joachim's Sacrificial Offering (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 5 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 5. Joachim's Dream (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 6 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 6. Meeting at the Golden Gate (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 6 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 6. Meeting at the Golden Gate (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 6 Scenes from the Life of Joachim: 6. Meeting at the Golden Gate (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 7 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 1. The Birth of the Virgin (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 7 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 1. The Birth of the Virgin (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 8 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 2. Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 8 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 2. Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 9 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 3. The Bringing of the Rods to the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 9 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 3. The Bringing of the Rods to the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 9 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 3. The Bringing of the Rods to the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 9 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 3. The Bringing of the Rods to the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 9 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 3. The Bringing of the Rods to the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 9 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 3. The Bringing of the Rods to the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 11 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 5. Marriage of the Virgin (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 11 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 5. Marriage of the Virgin (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 11 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 5. Marriage of the Virgin (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 12 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 6. Wedding Procession (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 12 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 6. Wedding Procession (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 12 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 6. Wedding Procession (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 13 God Sends Gabriel to the Virgin (detail) 1306 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 16 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 7. Visitation (detail) 1306 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 16 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 7. Visitation (detail) 1306 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 16 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 7. Visitation (detail) 1306 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 16 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 7. Visitation (detail) 1306 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 17 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 1. Nativity: Birth of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 17 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 1. Nativity: Birth of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 17 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 1. Nativity: Birth of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 18 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 2. Adoration of the Magi (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 18 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 2. Adoration of the Magi (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 18 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 2. Adoration of the Magi (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 19 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 3. Presentation of Christ at the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 19 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 3. Presentation of Christ at the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 19 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 3. Presentation of Christ at the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 20 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 4. Flight into Egypt (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 20 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 4. Flight into Egypt (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 20 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 4. Flight into Egypt (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 20 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 4. Flight into Egypt (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 21 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 5. Massacre of the Innocents (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 21 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 5. Massacre of the Innocents (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 22 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 6. Christ among the Doctors (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 23 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 7. Baptism of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 23 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 7. Baptism of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 23 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 7. Baptism of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 23 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 7. Baptism of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 24 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 8. Marriage at Cana (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 24 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 8. Marriage at Cana (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 24 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 8. Marriage at Cana (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 24 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 8. Marriage at Cana (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 25 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 9. Raising of Lazarus (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 25 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 9. Raising of Lazarus (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 25 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 9. Raising of Lazarus (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 26 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 10. Entry into Jerusalem (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 26 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 10. Entry into Jerusalem (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 27 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 11. Expulsion of the Money-changers from the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 27 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 11. Expulsion of the Money-changers from the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 27 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 11. Expulsion of the Money-changers from the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 27 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 11. Expulsion of the Money-changers from the Temple (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 28 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 12. Judas' Betrayal (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 28 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 12. Judas' Betrayal (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 28 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 12. Judas' Betrayal (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 28 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 12. Judas' Betrayal (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 29 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 13. Last Supper (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 29 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 13. Last Supper (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 30 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 14. Washing of Feet (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 30 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 14. Washing of Feet (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 31 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 15. The Arrest of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 32 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 16. Christ before Caiaphas (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 32 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 16. Christ before Caiaphas (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 32 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 16. Christ before Caiaphas (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 33 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 17. Mocking of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 33 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 17. Mocking of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 33 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 17. Mocking of Christ (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 34 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 18. Road to Calvary (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 34 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 18. Road to Calvary (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 35 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 19. Crucifixion (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 35 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 19. Crucifixion (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 35 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 19. Crucifixion (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 35 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 19. Crucifixion (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 36 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 20. Lamentation (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 36 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 20. Lamentation (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 36 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 20. Lamentation (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 36 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 20. Lamentation (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 36 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 20. Lamentation (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 36 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 20. Lamentation (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 37 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 21. Resurrection (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 37 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 21. Resurrection (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 37 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 21. Resurrection (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 38 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 22. Ascension (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 38 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 22. Ascension (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 38 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 22. Ascension (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 38 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 22. Ascension (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 39 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 23. Pentecost (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 39 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 23. Pentecost (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua
	No. 39 Scenes from the Life of Christ: 23. Pentecost (detail) 1304-06 Fresco Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

Summary of paintings by Giotto

Frescoes in San Francesco, Assisi

Upper Church: Legend of St Francis | New Testament scenes | Lower Church

Frescoes in Arena Chapel, Padua

Frescoes in Santa Croce, Florence

Frescoes in Peruzzi Chapel | Frescoes in Bardi Chapel

Panel paintings

Crucifix | Maestà and others | Polyptych panels | Stefaneschi Altarpiece | Baroncelli Polyptych

Miscellaneous works

Navicella mosaic | Campanile of the Florence Cathedral

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