Saint Francis before the Pope (Confirmation of the Franciscan Rule)

Spinello Aretino, one of the last major painters of the Florentine Trecento, depicts the pivotal moment when Saint Francis presents his rule to Pope Honorius III for official confirmation in 1223. This scene was central to Franciscan visual propaganda, legitimizing the order's place within the Church hierarchy. Painted around 1395 for the Art Institute of Chicago's collection, the work reflects the ongoing importance of Franciscan patronage in late Gothic Tuscany.

Egg tempera on panel with gold ground, featuring Spinello's energetic figural style with its distinctive elongated proportions and animated gestures. The architectural setting uses simplified Gothic forms to frame the narrative, with careful attention to the hierarchical positioning of Francis before the enthroned Pope.