Frescoes in the crossing vault of the Lower Church
by GIOTTO

In the crossing vault of the Lower Church of San Francesco at Assisi, Giotto created an impressive culmination, both of the paintings there and of Franciscan iconography. Around the keystone with its representation of the Christ of the Apocalypse, the allegories of the three Franciscan virtues and St. Francis in Glory are painted in a radiant halo in the compartments of the vault.

The frescoes in the crossing vault, which are located above the main altar and the tomb of St Francis, hence the most prominent place available for fresco decorations in either the lower or the upper church, are the finest of all the frescoes in the lower church.

The frescoes in the crossing vault also established a new genre in contemporaneous mural painting, for these are the earliest monumental allegories that have survived from the age of Giotto.

Preview Picture Data Info
Franciscan Allegories
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Franciscan Allegories
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Franciscan Allegories: The Apotheosis of St Francis
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


The Apotheosis of St Francis (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Franciscan Allegories: Allegory of Poverty
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Allegory of Poverty (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Allegory of Poverty (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Allegory of Poverty (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Franciscan Allegories: Allegory of Obedience
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Allegory of Obedience (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Allegory of Obedience (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Franciscan Allegories: Allegory of Chastity
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Allegory of Chastity (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Allegory of Chastity (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Allegory of Chastity (detail)
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Apocalyptic Christ
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Horseman of the Apocalypse
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Horseman of the Apocalypse
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Horseman of the Apocalypse
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi


Horseman of the Apocalypse
c. 1320
Fresco
Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi



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
Life of Joachim | Life of Virgin | Life of Christ | Angels | Heads
Last Judgment | Heads
Vault frescoes | Virtues and Vices | Decorative elements
Frescoes in Santa Croce, Florence
Frescoes in Peruzzi Chapel | Frescoes in Bardi Chapel
Panel paintings
Crucifix | Maestą and others | Polyptych panels | Stefaneschi Altarpiece | Baroncelli Polyptych
Miscellaneous works
Navicella mosaic | Campanile of the Florence Cathedral



© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.