Vision of the Throne
Cimabue·1277
Historical Context
The Vision of the Throne is part of Cimabue's fresco cycle in the Upper Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, painted around 1277-1280. The apocalyptic subject, drawn from the Book of Revelation, reflects the eschatological themes that were central to Franciscan spirituality and appropriate for the decoration of the order's mother church. These frescoes established Cimabue as the foremost painter in Italy and represented the most ambitious decorative program in Italian art before Giotto's work in the Arena Chapel in Padua.
Technical Analysis
The visionary subject demanded a monumental and hieratic treatment that suited Cimabue's Byzantine-influenced style, with the celestial throne presented in a symmetrical, frontal composition of impressive grandeur. The fresco technique handles the large architectural surface with confidence, adapting the compositions to the curved wall surfaces. Despite oxidation damage that has reversed many tonal values, the powerful scale and dramatic impact of the original conception remain evident.
