MASO DI BANCO
(active 1320-50 in Firenze)

The Miracle of the Dragon

c. 1335
Fresco, width 534 cm
Cappella di Bardi di Vernio, Santa Croce, Florence

The scene at the bottom of the south wall shows the Miracle of the Dragon. Of the scenes in the chapel, this is the most often discussed.

The scene of the "dragon miracle" takes place in Rome beetween the ruins of the Forum Romanum. The deep space is divided into three parts. On the left the Pope puts the dragon on chains then he turns toward the dead Magi and raises them from the dead. Emperor Constantine and his accompaniment occupy the right side of the scene in astonishment. The scene is narrative and not dramatic lacking the lively colours and monumentality of Giotto. However, the construction of the composition is remarkable.




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