The artwork titled “Death and Ascension of St. Francis” by Giotto, created in 1300, is a significant fresco of the Proto Renaissance art movement. It belongs to the religious painting genre and is part of the “Legend of St. Francis” series. This fresco, measuring 270 x 230 cm, is located in the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy.
The artwork portrays the solemn and sacred moment of St. Francis’s death and subsequent ascension. The composition of the scene is rich with figures, including the surrounding friars and other religious individuals mourning his passing. St. Francis is depicted lying on a bier in the lower section, and the friars display varying expressions of grief and reverence. Above, heavenly figures, including angels and Christ, witness St. Francis’s soul being taken to heaven. The fresco showcases Giotto’s mastery in conveying emotional depth and spiritual resonance through expressive facial features, detailed garments, and a harmonious color palette. The incorporation of divine and earthly realms illustrates the transcendence of St. Francis and his journey to sanctity, making it a profound piece of religious art.
