View of the Main Apsidal Chapel 1452

Benozzo Gozzoli painted this fresco of the Main Apsidal Chapel. The eye is immediately drawn upward, guided by the chapel's arching form, which is echoed in the painted composition. The fresco's divisions—the dome above, the walls below—create a layered narrative space. Gozzoli's organization suggests a structured cosmology. Figures and scenes unfold sequentially, inviting viewers to read the chapel as a text. The use of architectural elements like the window and archway further divides and frames the narrative, controlling our gaze. The color palette is carefully modulated; earth tones dominate the lower registers, contrasting with the celestial blues above. The painting functions within the architectural space to create a unified visual and symbolic environment. This interaction exemplifies the Renaissance interest in harmonizing art, space, and meaning. The chapel space becomes a stage for exploring humanist values.