“The Exorcism of the Demons at Arezzo,” painted by the artist Giotto between 1297 and 1299, is a fresco that belongs to the Proto Renaissance art movement. This religious painting measures 270 x 230 cm and is part of the “Legend of St. Francis” series. The artwork is located in the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy.
The artwork portrays a scene from the life of St. Francis, depicting the moment when he exorcises demons from the city of Arezzo. The central figure, St. Francis, is shown with an outstretched arm, casting out demonic figures that are soaring above the city, depicted as small, dark entities with wings. Behind him, another friar kneels in prayer, reinforcing the spiritual gravity of the scene. The architecture of the city of Arezzo, with its fortified walls and towers, frames the upper portion of the fresco, symbolizing the stronghold from which evil is being expelled. The details of the city are rendered with vibrant colors and intricate designs, contrasting with the darker, more subdued tones of the demons and the spiritual figures. The fresco captures a moment of divine intervention with a sense of drama and visual narrative characteristic of Giotto’s work and the Proto Renaissance period.
