Frescoes in the Upper Church of San Francesco at Assisi
by CIMABUE

Most of the frescoes in the transept of the upper church of San Francesco, as well as in the apse, were executed all at once by Cimabue and his workshop. Cimabue, who came from Florence, is the first of the mural painters active in Assisi who can be identified by name. The subject matter of the extensive pictorial program that was executed under Cimabue's direction in the transept and the apse is based for the most part on the dedications of the altars in the western section of the church. A thirteenth-century inscription indicates that the altar in the south transept was dedicated to the archangel Michael; the high altar, to the birth of the Virgin; and the altar in the north transept, to the apostles or to Peter and Paul. Accordingly, the apse had scenes from the life of the Virgin, culminating in the Assumption; the south transept had motifs from the Apocalypse and a large Crucifixion on the east wall; the north transept arm had scenes from the lives of the apostles and another large Crucifixion; and the crossing vault had the evangelists.

Reproductions of the frescoes in the Upper Church are listed in the Web Gallery of Art in sections of Cimabue, Giotto, Jacopo Torriti, Master of Saint Cecilia, Master of the Isaac Stories, and Unknown Italian Masters.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
View of the transept and apse from the east
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

1023*900
True Color
223 Kb



View of the transept and nave from the west
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

1321*800
True Color
263 Kb



View of the transept
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

923*1100
True Color
235 Kb



View of the transept
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

929*1100
True Color
239 Kb



View of the frescoes in the left transept
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

870*1177
True Color
189 Kb



South transept (detail)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

1057*900
True Color
222 Kb



Scenes from the Apocalypse
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

1358*770
True Color
202 Kb



Scenes from the Apocalypse: The Angel of the Sixth Seal
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

1000*1134
True Color
229 Kb



Apocalyptical Christ (detail)
1277-80
Fresco, 350 x 300 cm
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

684*826
True Color
173 Kb



Apocalyptical Christ (detail)
1277-80
Fresco, 350 x 300 cm
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

766*952
True Color
213 Kb



Crucifixion
1277-80
Fresco, 350 x 690 cm
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

1200*970
True Color
226 Kb



Crucifixion of St Peter
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

1050*1210
True Color
225 Kb



Crossing vault
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

803*1000
True Color
235 Kb



Crossing vault (detail of the south cell)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

900*1343
True Color
242 Kb



Crossing vault (detail of the west cell)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

600*696
True Color
99 Kb



Crossing vault (detail of the west cell)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

598*710
True Color
102 Kb



Crossing vault (detail of the east cell)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

602*706
True Color
96 Kb



Crossing vault (detail of the east cell)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

530*660
True Color
127 Kb



Crossing vault (detail of the north cell)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

602*716
True Color
109 Kb



Crossing vault (detail)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

800*1553
True Color
236 Kb



Crossing vault (detail)
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

800*1564
True Color
237 Kb



The Virgin beside Christ on the Heavenly Throne
1277-80
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

1000*1042
True Color
219 Kb



The Capture of Christ (detail)
-
Fresco
Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

716*964
True Color
174 Kb




Summary of paintings by Cimabue
Assisi | Crucifix | Madonna | Mosaics