GOZZOLI, Benozzo
(b. ca. 1420, Firenze, d. 1497, Pistoia)

Scenes from the Life of St Francis (Scene 8, south wall)

1452
Fresco, 304 x 220 cm
Apsidal chapel, San Francesco, Montefalco

The second row concludes with the Death of the Knight of Celano. It depicts the extensive interior of a private residence which is furnished with a wooden coffered ceiling and a tiled floor. In the centre of the picture a pillared walkway divides the room into two areas. The left half of the picture is missing considerable sections of paint. The depiction of a person sitting at a table has been almost totally destroyed. Nonetheless, the remaining fragments make it possible to identify him. He must be a Franciscan monk, for the lower part of his monastic attire is still visible.

The picture combines three scenes: in the left half of a pillared hall with two aisles and a coffered ceiling, St. Francis is prophesying the Knight of Celano's imminent death and begging him to make his confession. The events continue chronologically on the right of the picture. The nobleman's confession to the Franciscan monk is followed in the background by his sudden death.

The inscription reads: QUANDO BS. F. FUIT INVITATUS AD PRANDIUM A COMITE DE CELANO ET TU(N)C B. F. PR(A)EDIXIT SUAM MORTEM - "How St Francis was invited to a meal by the knight of Celano, whose death was prophesied by St Francis."