Cambridge University Press
9781107016323 - The Architecture in Giotto's Paintings - By Francesco Benelli
Frontmatter/Prelims

The Architecture in Giotto's Paintings

This book offers an analysis of Giotto's painted architecture, focusing on issues of structural logic, clarity of composition, and its role within the narrative of the painting. Giotto was the first artist since antiquity to feature highly detailed architecture in a primary role in his paintings. Francesco Benelli demonstrates how architecture was used to create pictorial space, one of Giotto's key inventions. He argues that Giotto's innovation was driven by a new attention to classical sources, including low reliefs, mosaics, mural paintings, coins, and Roman ruins. The book shows how Giotto's images of fictive buildings, as well as portraits of well-known monuments, both ancient and contemporary, play an important role in the overall narrative, iconography, and meaning of his works. The conventions established by Giotto remained at the heart of early modern Italian painting until the sixteenth century.

Francesco Benelli is Associate Professor of Renaissance Architecture in the Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia University. He was the recipient of the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship at Columbia University and a Fellow at the Kunst Historisches Institut in Florence. He has published widely on several aspects of Renaissance architecture, as well as on issues of building material and technique and the history of design and construction.

To my parents, Anna Maria and Maurizio, and to my children, Nicholas and Anna Maria Perché realizzare un'opera quando è così bello sognarla soltanto? Pier Paolo Pasolini Il Decameron

1971

The Architecture in Giotto's Paintings

Francesco Benelli

Columbia University

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© Francesco Benelli 2012

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 2012
Printed in the United States of America

A catalog record for this publication is available from the British Library.

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data

Benelli, Francesco.
The architecture in Giotto's paintings / Francesco Benelli.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-107-01632-3
1. Giotto, 1266?-1337 – Criticism and interpretation. 2. Architecture in art. 3. Mural painting and decoration, Italian – Themes, motives. 4. Mural painting and decoration, Gothic – Italy – Themes, motives. I. Giotto, 1266?-1337. II. Title.
ND623.G6B452012
759.5 – dc232011031551

ISBN 978-1-107-01632-3 Hardback

Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is,or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Contents

List of Illustrations
 vii
Acknowledgments
 xiii
Introduction
 1
1     The Assisi Cycle of the Legend
 12
2     The Architecture in the Chapel of Enrico Scrovegni in Padua
 72
3     The Peruzzi and Bardi Chapels in Santa Croce in Florence
 110
4     The Lower Church of Assisi
 138
5     Giotto's Legacy in the Lower Church of San Francesco in Assisi
 171
6     Excursus: Giotto's Legacy at Santa Croce in Florence
 193
Conclusion
 206
Notes
 213
Bibliography
 253
Index
 267

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Color Plates

I.    Giotto and his workshop. The Pentecost. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
II.   Giotto and his workshop. St. Francis's Renunciation of Worldly Goods. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
III.  Giotto and his workshop. St. Francis Liberates the Repentant Heretic. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
IV.   Giotto and his workshop. Homage of a Simple Man. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
V.    Giotto and his workshop. Jesus among the Doctors. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
VI.   Giotto and his workshop. Vision of the Palace. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
VII.  Giotto. The Meeting at the Golden Gate. 1303–1305. Padua, Scrovegni Chapel.
VIII. Giotto. The Feast of Herod. Florence, Peruzzi Chapel, church of Santa Croce.
IX.   Giotto. The Renunciation of Worldly Goods. Florence, Bardi Chapel, church of Santa Croce.
X.    Maso di Banco. St. Sylvester and the Dragon. Bardi di Vernio Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence.

Figures

1.    Hieronymus Cock. View of the Templum Pacis (Basilica of Maxentium or Constantine). From Antoine Lafréry, Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae, Antwerp 1551, f. 162.page
 15
2.    Villa of Mysteries. Cubiculum 16, Pompei. Ca. 50 b.c.
19
3.    Anaglypha Traiani showing the Reliqua vetera abolita. Roman Forum, Curia Iulia, Rome. Second century.
21
4.    Giotto and his workshop. Throne of Pope Nicholas IV. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
23
5.    Giotto and his workshop. The Vision of the Flaming Chariot. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
24
6.    Giotto and his workshop. Sequence of the Frescos within the Bay. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
25
7.    Giotto and his workshop. The Ecstasies of St. Francis. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
27
8.    Giotto and his workshop. The Vision of Fra Agostino and Bishop Guido d’Assisi. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
29
9.    Baldassarre Peruzzi. Drawing of the Tomb of the Plauti near Tivoli. GDSU 532Ar. Florence, Uffizi, Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe.
34
10.   Nerian Dupondius, face with the image of the Macellum Magnum. 65 a.d.
35
11.   Cimabue. Ytalia. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
38
12.   Giotto and his workshop. The Dream of Innocent III. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
39
13.   Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, façade. Rome.
 40
14.   Temple of the Minerva today. Assisi.
 41
15.   Sacrifice in Front of the Temple of Mars the Ultor. Façade of Villa Medici Rome.
43
16.   Anaglypha Traiani, the Adlocutio. Roman Forum, Curia Iulia, Rome. Second century.
45
17.   Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. Portico. Rome.
 46
18.   Church of San Paolo fuori le mura. Ciborium. Rome.
 47
19.   Tomb of Adrian V, Viterbo, church of San Francesco.
 48
20.   Giotto and his workshop. The Crib at Greccio. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
49
21.   Giotto and his workshop. St. Clare Grieving over the Body of St. Francis. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
51
22.   Church of San Frediano, façade, Pisa.
 52
23.   Church of San Ruffino, façade. Assisi.
 53
24.   Giotto and his workshop. St. Francis Expels the Devils from Arezzo. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
54
25.   Giotto and his workshop. Stories of Isaac. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
55
26.   Cimabue. Fall of Simon Magus. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
57
27.   Sepulcher of the Haterii. Vatican Museums. Pedestal. Early second century.
 59
28.   G. A. Dosio. Urbis Romae aedificiorum illustrium quae supersunt reliquiae, Roma 1569. Mausoleum of St. Costanza (believed to be the Templum of Baccus).
61
29.   Master Conxolus. Enthroned Madonna with Child. Subiaco, Sacro Speco.
63
30.   G. A. Dosio. View of the Septizodium. GDSU 1774Av., Florence, Uffizi, Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe.
66
31.   Rome. Domus Augustana, room of the Masks.
 67
32.   P. Cavallini. Annunciation. Mosaic in the apses. Rome, Santa Maria in Trastevere.
67
33.   Giotto and his workshop. The Prayer at San Damiano. Assisi, upper church of San Francesco.
69
34.   Giotto. Christ's Entry into Jerusalem. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
73
35.   Giotto. The Road to Calvary. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
74
36.   Giotto. General view of the chapel. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
 75
37.   Giotto. The Last Supper. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
77
38.   Giotto. Joachim's Expulsion from the Temple. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
78
39.   Giotto. The Virgin's Entry in the Temple. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
79
40.   Giotto. The Presentation in the Temple. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
80
41.   Cathedral of Siena. Façade.
 81
42.   Cimabue. St. Peter the Apostle Healing the Sick and Driving Out Demons. Assisi, right transept of the upper church of San Francesco.
83
43.   Giotto. The Annunciation to Anna and the Birth of the Virgin. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
84
44.   Padua. Basilica del Santo. External view of the transept.
 85
45.   Arch of Antenore. Padua.
 86
46.   Giotto. The Angel Announcing and the Annuciation. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
87
47.   Padua. Basilica del Santo. Cloister of the Capitolo. Sarcophagus of Guido da Lozzo and Costanza d’Este.
 89
48.   Giotto. Christ before Caiaphas. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
90
49.   Giotto. The Mocking of the Christ. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
91
50.   Giotto. The Mocking of the Christ. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
93
51.   Giotto. The Distribution of the Rods. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
95
52.   Giotto. Christ among the Doctors. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
97
53.   Altinate gate. Padua.
 99
54.   Giotto. The Massacre of the Innocent. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
101
55.   Anonymous of Pisanello's circle. View of the Apses of the Basilica del Santo in Padua. Collection Bonnat. NI 1691 (verso), Museum Bonnat, Bayonne.
102
56.   Giotto. The Expulsion of the Merchants from the Temple. Padua, Scrovegni chapel, 1303–1305.
103
57.   Palazzo della Ragione. Padua, lower level of the west side.
 105
58.   Sarcophagus. Padua, Cloister of the Capitolo of the Basilica del Santo.
 107
59.   Giotto. Annunciation to Zachary. Florence, Peruzzi chapel, church of Santa Croce.
111
60.   Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, ciborium and apse. Rome.
 113
61.   Giotto. The Birth and Naming of the Baptist. Florence, Peruzzi chapel, church of Santa Croce.
115
62.   Giotto. The Resurrection of Drusiana. Florence, Peruzzi chapel, church of Santa Croce.
116
63.   Church of St. John at Ephesus. Reconstruction drawing by Hormann. Published by Schwartz 1991–92, 33.
 117
64.   Badia Fiorentina. Facade of the left transept, Florence.
 119
65.   Giotto. The Ascension of the Vangelist. Florence, Peruzzi chapel, church of Santa Croce.
121
66.   Tower of the Milizie, Rome.
 123
67.   Frescoes of the corridor and the triclinium at Villa Farnesina. Rome, National Archeological Museum at palazzo Massimo alle terme.
125
68.   Giotto. Bardi chapel, general view. Florence, church of Santa Croce.
 127
69.   Giotto. Bardi chapel, view of the frescoes on the left wall, from bottom to top: Death and Ascension of St. Francis, Apparition at Arles, Renunciation of Worldly Goods. Florence, church of Santa Croce.
129
70.   Giotto. Bardi chapel, view of the frescoes on right wall, from bottom to top: Vision of the Ascension of St. Francis, St. Francis before the Sultan, Confirmation of the Rule. Florence, church of Santa Croce.
133
71.   Domus Augustana, east wing. Rome, Palatin hill.
 136
72.   St. Nicholas Grants Three Gold Ingots to the Maidens of Patera. Chapel of St. Nicholas. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
140
73.   St. Nicholas Saves Three Innocent Men from Decapitation. Chapel of St. Nicholas. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
141
74.   Three Princes Give Thanks to St. Nicholas. Chapel of St. Nicholas. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
143
75.   St. Nicholas Appears in a Dream to Constantine. Chapel of St. Nicholas. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
145
76.   The Virgin and Child with St. Nicholas and St. Francis. Chapel of St. Nicholas. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
149
77.   The Magdalene Borne by Angels and Given the Eucharist by St. Maximin. Chapel of the Magdalene. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
150
78.   Baptistery of St. John. East side. Florence.
 151
79.   Christ's Youth. The Visitation. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
152
80.   Christ's Youth. The Massacre of the Innocents. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
153
81.   Christ's Youth. The Adoration of the Magi. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
155
82.   Christ's Youth. The Return of Jesus to Bethlehem. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
156
83.   Christ's Youth. The Presentation in the Temple. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
157
84.   Christ's Youth. Christ among the Doctors. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
159
85.   St. Francis's Post-Mortem Miracles. The Death of the Boy of Suessa. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
162
86.   St. Francis's Post-Mortem Miracles. The Rising of the Boy of Suessa. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
163
87.   St. Francis's Post-Mortem Miracles. The Boy Who Fell from a Balcony. North transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
165
88.   Church of SS. Quattro Coronati, facade. Rome.
 167
89.   Church of San Miniato a Monte, facade. Florence.
 168
90.   Church of San Salvatore, facade. Spoleto.
 169
91.   East wall of St. Martin chapel. The Divided Cloak. Christ Appears to St. Martin. Dream of St. Ambrose. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
173
92.   St. Martin Receiving the Knightly Investiture. St. Martin chapel. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
175
93.   Duccio di Buoninsegna. Maestà. Christ among the Doctors. Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana del Duomo, Siena.
177
94.   Duccio di Buoninsegna. Maestà. The Virgin Taking Leave of the Apostles. Museo dell’Opera Metropolitana del Duomo, Siena.
178
95.   Homage of the Emperor Valentinian. St. Martin chapel. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
179
96.   Death of St. Martin. St. Martin chapel. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
180
97.   The Funeral of St. Martin. St. Martin chapel. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
181
98.   Pietro Lorenzetti. Life of Christ. Christ's Entry into Jerusalem. South transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
185
99.   Pietro Lorenzetti. Life of Christ. The Last Supper. South transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
186
100.  Pietro Lorenzetti. The Washing of the Feet. South transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
187
101.  Pietro Lorenzetti. The Flagellation. South transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
189
102.  Pietro Lorenzetti. The Road to Calvary. South transept. Lower church of San Francesco, Assisi.
191
103.  Taddeo Gaddi. The Expulsion of Joachim. Baroncelli chapel, Santa Croce, Florence.
194
104.  Baptistery of St. John. Exterior. Second level. Florence.
 195
105.  Taddeo Gaddi. Meeting at the Golden Gate. The Birth of the Virgin. The Marriage of the Virgin. East wall, Baroncelli Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence.
197
106.  Taddeo Gaddi. The Adoration of the Magi. Baroncelli Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence.
199
107.  Maso di Banco. Peter and Paul Appearing to Constantine. Bardi di Vernio Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence.
201
108.  Maso di Banco. From bottom to top: Miracle of the Bull. Reckoning of the Icon and Constantine's Baptism. Bardi di Vernio Chapel, Santa Croce, Florence.
203


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