Fresco cycle in Montefalco (1450-52)

The rib-vaulted, pentagonal apsidal chapel (choir) of the Franciscan monastery church in Montefalco, built between 1336 and 1340, was decorated in 1450-52 by Benozzo Gozzoli with a cycle of frescoes depicting the most important stages and deeds from the life of St Francis, the founder of the order.

The selection of scenes in Montefalco differs from the traditional pattern. Benozzo only depicted scenes from the saint's life from his birth to his death, and omitted the posthumous miracles. He also did not keep to the chronological order of events, instead creating a new thematic order of the saint's life. The lowest row - with the exception of the Meeting of St Francis and St Dominic - shows scenes from his youth. In the second row his deeds are depicted, and in the third row the proofs of divine mercy. Benozzo places the emphasis in his life of St Francis on the proofs of divine mercy and the similarities and parallels between his life and Christ's. At the same time, he places the scenes in a contemporary architecture and landscape, in order to give his contemporaries a closer understanding of St Francis.

The cycle of St Francis in Montefalco contains a total of 19 episodes from the life and work of the saint, arranged in a total of 12 pictures and a lost stained glass window. The episodes are the following:

The lost stained glass window depicted the Vision of San Damiano.

In the umbrella vault, St Francis is enthroned in glory with angels on either side. In the five spandrels he is surrounded by the most important saints of the Franciscan order.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 33 minutes):
Michael Haydn: St Francis Mass