# St Francis in Glory and Saints

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/st-francis-in-glory-and-saints-r76474efcb3df8a>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [GOZZOLI, Benozzo](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c>)
- Date: 1451-1500
- Technique: Vault fresco

## Commentary

In the apsidal chapel&#39;s umbrella vault, with angels on either side, St Francis is enthroned in glory with angels on either side. In the five spandrels, against a star-studded heaven with cirrus clouds, he is surrounded by the most important saints of the Franciscan order. During previous restoration work the names of the saints were repainted incorrectly: S\(ANCTUA\) A\(N\)TO\(NIUS\), St Anthony of Padua; S\(AN\)C\(T\)A CATARINA \[sic\], St Clare of Assisi; S\(ANCTUS\)BERNAR\(INUS\), St Bernadine of Siena; S\(ANCTA\) ROSA VIT\(ERBENSI\)S \[sic\], St Catherine of Siena; S\(ANCTUS L\)UDOVICU\(S\) R\(E\)X, St Louis of France. The architectural structure of the polygonal apse on a pentagonal plan; covered by a ribbed umbrella vault, obliged Benozzo to make use of an extremely Gothic division of the cycle, which threatened to place limits on his expressiveness. And in fact, while the five Franciscan saints fit in nicely, one to each segment, with their backdrop of a starry sky and support of rose-coloured clouds, the solid St Francis seated in glory is almost squashed into the segment bordering on the underside of the arch, with a sculptural force that spills over into the blazing circle of seraphim, &#34;cut&#34; by the triangular field. The artist&#39;s secure grasp of the spatial layout is demonstrated by the foreshortening of the cross in the saint&#39;s hand.

## Related artworks

- [Adoration of the Magi](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/adoration-of-the-magi-rfeae5def424933>)
- [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel, detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/angels-worshipping-left-side-of-the-chancel-detail-r0173b1fa611e55>)
- [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel, detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/angels-worshipping-left-side-of-the-chancel-detail-rbe707fceedbde4>)
- [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel, detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/angels-worshipping-left-side-of-the-chancel-detail-rca19fcabb600f4>)
- [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/angels-worshipping-left-side-of-the-chancel-r1fad0360e8140f>)
- [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/angels-worshipping-left-side-of-the-chancel-r505a7d780cc0e8>)
- [Angels Worshipping \(right side of the chancel\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/angels-worshipping-right-side-of-the-chancel-rbee7c96afe4365>)
- [Arrival of St Augustine in Milan \(scene 8, north wall\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/arrival-of-st-augustine-in-milan-scene-8-north-wall-r7fdb8e3ec0930d>)
- [Assumption of the Virgin](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/assumption-of-the-virgin-r078107115dcf10>)
- [Baptism of St Augustine \(scene 11, east wall\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/baptism-of-st-augustine-scene-11-east-wall-r4716d1fd7307fc>)
- [Birth of Mary](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/birth-of-mary-rb79f3e34c2ccc3>)
- [Blessing of the Faithful at Hippo \(scene 14, north wall\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/gozzoli-benozzo-r9fb82d431d2a5c/blessing-of-the-faithful-at-hippo-scene-14-north-wall-r1c95cfdff96238>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)