Death and Ascention of St. Francis 1452

Benozzo Gozzoli painted "Death and Ascension of St. Francis" as a fresco, capturing a pivotal moment framed by earthly mourning and divine glory. Above the somber scene, angels carry St. Francis towards heaven, mirroring the earthly veneration below. Note the figures surrounding St. Francis's deathbed, echoing similar scenes of mourning across epochs, from ancient sarcophagi to Renaissance depositions. Consider the gesture of kneeling, repeated throughout history, from supplicants before emperors to worshippers in prayer; it is a primal expression of respect, humility, and the human yearning for transcendence. This image taps into a collective memory, evoking emotions tied to loss, reverence, and hope. Gozzoli masterfully uses symbols to connect viewers to deeper psychological experiences, revealing how cultural and religious symbols are continually reinterpreted across time.