# Scenes from the Life of St Francis \(Scene 10, north wall\) [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [GOZZOLI, Benozzo]() - Date: 1451-1500 - Technique: Fresco, 270 x 220 cm ## Commentary Benozzo connects the Trial by Fire before the Sultan with another event. The dancing girl from the "Fioretti," who is shown here between the two main figures in the scene, has been ordered by the Sultan to attempt to seduce the saint, and she later converts. She is used to loosen up the otherwise rather stiff composition, but at the same time also creates a link as regards content between the two groups. From the throne room of the richly-decorated palace Sultan Melek-el-Kamel and his servants follow the amazing events by which Francis proves God's protective powers. Only the date palm behind the red brick wall gives an indication of the oriental setting. The architectural elements of the palace and the row of cypresses, however, originate in the architecture of contemporary Italian nobility. The accompanying inscription reads: Q\(UA\)NDO SOLDANUS MISITUNA\(M\) PUELLA\(M\) AD TE\(N\)TA\(N\)DUM B. F. ET IP\(S\)E I\(N\)TRAVIT I\(N\)IGNE\(M\) ET OMNES EXTUPUERUNT - "How the sultan sent a girl to tempt St Francis, and how he walked through fire and amazed everyone." ## Related artworks - [Adoration of the Magi]() - [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel, detail\)]() - [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel, detail\)]() - [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel, detail\)]() - [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel\)]() - [Angels Worshipping \(left side of the chancel\)]() - [Angels Worshipping \(right side of the chancel\)]() - [Arrival of St Augustine in Milan \(scene 8, north wall\)]() - [Assumption of the Virgin]() - [Baptism of St Augustine \(scene 11, east wall\)]() - [Birth of Mary]() - [Blessing of the Faithful at Hippo \(scene 14, north wall\)]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()