Page 336 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

334  CENTR AL IT AL Y

Arezzo: San Francesco

The 13th-century Church of San Francesco houses one
of Italy’s greatest fresco cycles, the Legend of the True
Cross (1452–66), Piero della Francesca’s masterpiece.
The scenes, on the walls of the choir, are now visible
again after a long restoration. They describe the history
of the Cross used to crucify Christ, from sprig to Tree of
Knowledge to its use as a bridge during the reign of A Group of Onlookers
These figures kneel in wonder
Solomon, and ultimately its discovery by Helena, while Heraclius returns the True
mother of Constantine, the first Christian emperor. Cross to Jerusalem.

Excavation of the Cross
The town, meant to be Jerusalem,
gives a fair representation of
15th-century Arezzo.

KEY
1 The prophets appear to play
no part in the narrative cycle; their
presence may be for purely
decorative reasons.
2 The Queen of Sheba recognizes
the wood of the Cross.
3 The wood of the Cross is buried
in a pit.
4 Judas reveals where the Cross
is hidden.
5 The 13th-century Crucifix
forms the focal point of the fresco
cycle. The figure at the foot of the
Cross represents St Francis, to whom
the church is dedicated.
Key to Frescoes
6 The Cross returns to Jerusalem.
7 Constantine dreams of the
Cross on the eve of battle against
rival emperor Maxentius. 1 The Death of Adam; a sprig from the
Tree of Knowledge is planted over
8 Constantine leads his cavalry his grave.
into battle. 2 The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon
and foresees that a bridge made from
9 The Defeat of Chosroes depicts the Tree will be used to crucify the
the defeat of a Persian king who had greatest king in the world.
stolen the Cross. 3 Solomon, assuming he is the greatest
king in the world, orders the bridge
0 The buildings in the fresco to be buried.
reflect the newly fashionable styles 4 The Annunciation: Christ’s death is
of Renaissance architecture. foreshadowed in the panel’s cruciform
structure.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

334-335_EW_Italy.indd 334 26/04/16 5:17 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.2)
Date 23rd October 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm