St. Francis in Glory and Saints 1452

Curator: Looking up, we're met with Benozzo Gozzoli’s “St. Francis in Glory and Saints,” painted as a fresco around 1452. What a rush, eh? Editor: It does have an almost dizzying effect, doesn’t it? All those celestial figures radiating outwards, nestled within what looks like architectural vaulting…a kind of controlled explosion of spirituality. I'm struck by how effectively it blends architecture with illusionistic painting. It pushes you to look up, literally and figuratively. Curator: Absolutely. For me, Gozzoli's genius is how he makes the sacred so…personable. St. Francis, right at the center, doesn’t loom menacingly; instead he’s there with his open book and welcoming stance. Sort of saying, ‘Hey, pull up a cloud and let’s chat.’ Editor: That’s a really interesting way to put it, a chat—because you have to consider how carefully Gozzoli is constructing that accessibility. The figures almost float in this starry sky of blue—which immediately raises questions about earthly hierarchies. Where do these figures stand in relation to the social and political structures that often excluded or oppressed marginalized groups? The way he renders these saints seems intentional to create a divine community—a visual articulation of a more just world. Curator: Or at least hints at it. Those details along the edge with the floral details softens everything—like grandma’s old china patterns made divine! It seems, overall, he wants to offer not just piety, but something that sings a little. Editor: And in doing so, complicates the role of art. Is it simply decorative, a ‘pretty picture’? Or is it a site for engaging in these really pressing, urgent dialogues about the world? This work speaks of a complex visual heritage and the continuing relevance of faith in culture and daily lived experience. It goes beyond beauty alone; there’s something intrinsically and fundamentally human. Curator: Yes, it offers both, maybe…a reminder that even painted on a ceiling, something ancient and gilded can crack open and really show us a bit of raw, gorgeous light. Editor: Leaving you looking skyward, both moved and questioned! Always a productive mix!