Giotto - Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis - Upper Basilica

The cycle of the Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis, painted in the Upper Basilica between the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, marks a decisive turning point in Western painting.

The saint’s life unfolds along the walls of the nave in a continuous sequence of episodes, composed with clarity and close attention to space. Cities, interiors and landscapes give the scenes recognisable settings, while gestures, glances and relationships between the figures carry the narrative forward.

The result is a clear and compelling narrative that brings sacred history into a tangible and recognisable world.