Scenes from the Life of the Virgin
Frescoes by GIOTTO

The story of Mary's parents concludes with their intense encounter at the Golden Gate. The sensitive portrayal of their meeting already contains the germ for the start of the next narrative, which commences with the Birth of the Virgin Mary and which leads to the youth of Christ by way of the Bridal Procession of the Virgin.

On the wall facing the one with the stories of Joachim and Anne is the series of eposodes based on the infancy and marriage of the Virgin. Taken in their entirety, these stories constituted the most extensive Marian cycle that had ever been executed on a wall in Italy. The chapel is dedicated to the Virgin of Charity and the place that Scrovegni strategically chose to build it was linked to an ancient Marian cult that was particularly strong among the citizens of Padua.

As in the case of the stories of Joachim and Anne, those dedicated to Mary also had as their principal source the Apocrypha and the Golden Legend.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 6 minutes):
Guillaume Dufay: Ave, maris stella, hymn for the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
No. 7 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 1. The Birth of the Virgin
1304-06
Fresco, 200 x 185 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1250*1200
True Color
243 Kb



No. 7 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 1. The Birth of the Virgin (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1283*1495
True Color
227 Kb



No. 7 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 1. The Birth of the Virgin (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1119*1296
True Color
227 Kb



No. 7 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 1. The Birth of the Virgin (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1189*1391
True Color
238 Kb



No. 8 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 2. Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple
1304-06
Fresco, 200 x 185 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1264*1200
True Color
217 Kb



No. 8 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 2. Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1189*1384
True Color
213 Kb



No. 8 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 2. Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple
1304-06
Fresco, 200 x 185 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

939*1100
True Color
132 Kb



No. 9 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 3. The Bringing of the Rods to the Temple
1304-06
Fresco, 200 x 185 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1281*1200
True Color
230 Kb



No. 9 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 3. The Bringing of the Rods to the Temple (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1403*1277
True Color
244 Kb



No. 10 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 4.The Suitors Praying
1304-06
Fresco, 200 x 185 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1306*1200
True Color
226 Kb



No. 10 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 4.The Suitors Praying (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1195*1383
True Color
206 Kb



No. 11 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 5. Marriage of the Virgin
1304-06
Fresco, 200 x 185 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1310*1200
True Color
224 Kb



No. 11 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 5. Marriage of the Virgin (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1403*1022
True Color
224 Kb



No. 12 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 6. Wedding Procession
1304-06
Fresco, 200 x 185 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1302*1200
True Color
210 Kb



No. 12 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 6. Wedding Procession (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1184*1384
True Color
212 Kb



No. 12 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 6. Wedding Procession (detail)
1304-06
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1185*1379
True Color
239 Kb



No. 13 God Sends Gabriel to the Virgin
1306
Fresco, 230 x 690 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1681*800
True Color
228 Kb



No. 13 God Sends Gabriel to the Virgin (detail)
1306
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

681*951
True Color
99 Kb



No. 13 God Sends Gabriel to the Virgin (detail)
1306
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1227*954
True Color
164 Kb



No. 13 God Sends Gabriel to the Virgin (detail)
1306
Tempera on panel
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1034*1654
True Color
246 Kb



No. 14 Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel Sent by God
1306
Fresco, 150 x 195 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1130*1200
True Color
192 Kb



No. 15 Annunciation: The Virgin Receiving the Message
1306
Fresco, 150 x 195 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1127*1200
True Color
189 Kb



No. 16 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 7. Visitation
1306
Fresco, 150 x 140 cm
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1024*1200
True Color
167 Kb



No. 16 Scenes from the Life of the Virgin: 7. Visitation (detail)
1306
Fresco
Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua

1615*951
True Color
245 Kb




Summary of paintings by Giotto
Frescoes in San Francesco, Assisi
Upper Church: Legend of St Francis | New Testament scenes | Lower Church
Frescoes in Arena Chapel, Padua
Life of Joachim | Life of Virgin | Life of Christ | Angels | Heads
Last Judgment | Heads
Vault frescoes | Virtues and Vices | Decorative elements
Frescoes in Santa Croce, Florence
Frescoes in Peruzzi Chapel | Frescoes in Bardi Chapel
Panel paintings
Crucifix | Maestŕ and others | Polyptych panels | Stefaneschi Altarpiece | Baroncelli Polyptych
Miscellaneous works
Navicella mosaic | Campanile of the Florence Cathedral