Giotto's famed fresco cycle depicting St. Francis of Assisi restored in Florence

The useful part

A cycle of frescoes by Italian 14th-century master Giotto, depicting key moments in the life of St. Francis" were shown to the public last week in the Basilica of Santa Croce, just in time for the 800th anniversary of the saint's death on Oct. Giotto, who died in Florence in 1337, is considered by many to be the greatest Italian painter of his time and is considered the father of European painting.

How it works

• Francis frescos have regained their richness following the restoration and offer new insights into Giotto's revolutionary techniques and style, restorers said.
• "He knew how to orchestrate them within spaces that emphasized the meaning of the scenes," with a high degree of detail.
• In 1851, while preparations were underway for a new decoration of the chapel, some of the whitewash was removed, but the process also damaged the works.
• His artistic innovations informed the Renaissance style that developed after he died.
• Painted between 1317-1325 and adorning a side chapel in the basilica, the St.

What to take from it

The frescoes had been covered by several layers of lime whitewash that had been applied in the 18th century, a common fate for frescoes considered outdated at the time. The frescoes underwent further interventions in the 1950s, before the latest restoration began in 2022. The restoration project consolidated the most fragile parts of the cycle, reduced signs of deterioration, r...

Details worth keeping

Francis of Assisi, has been unveiled after a four-year restoration.