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

Florence, Italy (AP) — After a four-year restoration, a cycle of frescoes by 14th-century Italian master Giotto depicting key moments in the life of St. Francis of Assisi has been unveiled. The "Stories of St. Francis" are now on display at the Basilica of Santa Croce, timed to coincide with the 800th anniversary of the saint's death on October 4. Giotto, who died in Florence in 1337, is considered the greatest Italian painter of his time and the father of European painting.

The frescoes, painted between 1317-1325, were restored to reveal their vibrant colors and original artistic vision. Layers of lime whitewash, added in the 18th century, obscured Giotto's original work, and a restoration project began in 2022. The restoration used advanced technology including ground-penetrating radar analysis, thermal imaging cameras, and a laser scanner to create a 3D model of the chapel.

The restored frescoes have provided new insights into Giotto's revolutionary techniques and style. Emanuela Daffra, superintendent of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, explained that the restoration allowed for clearer interpretation of the figures' gazes and the orchestration of them within the spaces, highlighting the meaning of the scenes.

The frescoes cover approximately 180 square meters within the Bardi Chapel, recounting seven key episodes in the life of Francis, including his renunciation of worldly goods and the trial by fire.