Art History by Laurence Shafe, 1250-1400: Chapels and Chapel Decoration

Chapels within the context of great churches

Nave chapels from 1220s, transept facades from c. 1245, choir chapels given by upper echelons of court and Paris burghers from 1290s

Slide 6: Amiens Cathedral, begun 1220

Slide 7: Amiens Cathedral, la Grange Chapel

Tomb de la Grange chapels added c. 1375, with exterior religious/dynastic/courtly imagery

Slide 8: Florence, Sta Maria Novella

Slide 9: Florence, S. Croce

Slide 10: Florence, S. Croce, Bardi Chapel

Bardi Chapel, Giotto Life of St Francis

Slide 11: Florence, S. Croce, Peruzzi Chapel

1320, Giotto di Bondone, fresco, 280 x 450 cm, Peruzzi Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence

Scenes from the Life of St John the Baptist: 3. Feast of Herod. This is a double scene. The larger part represents the dance of Salome before Herod, and the accompanying man playing on a musical instrument, while on the right the head of St John is handed over to her. The fresco is strongly faded, however, the whole composition can be seen.

Slide 12: Florence, S. Croce, Baroncelli Chapel

Slide 13: Florence, S. Croce, Bardi di Vernio Chapel

Giotto di Bondone, c. 1325, fresco, 280 x 450 cm, Cappella Bardi, Santa Croce, Florence

Death and Ascension of St Francis

In the Bardi Chapel, Giotto painted scenes from the life of St Francis for which the cycle at Assisi served as a model. The limited space in the chapel made it necessary to restrict the number of episodes represented. There is an admirable balance maintained between the studied precision of the composition and the eloquent expression of grief in the Death and Ascension of St Francis, where a small group of friars is gathered round the pale figure of the dead saint, expressing their profound sorrow with great dignity.

The Bardi Chapel was completely whitewashed in the eighteenth century, and tombs were built against its walls. The frescoes were uncovered in 1852, the missing parts filled in, and the whole surface repainted. When the repaint was removed in 1958-59, the original frescoes reappeared in fair condition, save for the unsightly gaps.

Mendicant churches of Sta Maria Novella and S. Croce (begun 1294; Bardi- and Peruzzi Chapels (Giotto wall paintings), Baroncelli Chapel (tomb, Taddeo Gaddi — wall paintings, Giotto altarpiece), Bardi di Vernio Chapel (tomb, wall paintings by Maso di Banco)

Slide 14: St-Germer-de-Fly, Lady Chapel, c. 1260

Slide 15: Bristol, St Augustine’s, begun 1298, Lady Chapel

Slide 16: Wells, Lady Chapel

Some detail of the polygonal Lady Chapel. This section of the Cathedral was completed by 1326. The Chapel is dedicated to the Mother of Jesus. Retro-choir and ambulatory, begun 1323 by Thomas of Witney Ely, Lady Chapel, begun 1321