Artistic aspects of the Lower Basilica

Chapel of St. Martin of Tours 

This Gothic-style chapel was painted by Simone Martin and the Sienese painter depicted the life of the saint in extensive detail. 
 

St. Martin donates his cloak to a poor man 

On horseback, St. Martin, who has taken off his cloak and cut it in two with his sword, gives one half to the poor man. 

St. Martin abandons the knighthood 

The Death of St. Martin 

 
While the saint is lying on his deathbed surrounded by angels, Christ appears to him. 

Here we can see: the Chapel of St. Stephen, the Chapel of St. Peter of Alcantara, the Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua, the Chapel of St. Stanislaw. 

Magdalen Chapel

Giotto and his followers depicted the main events from the life of Mary Magdalen here.
 

The Presbytery 

 
Noli me Tangere

Mary Magdalen has her arms outstretched towards the Risen Christ. 
 

The Transept 

The center of the transept is dominated by the main altar (this is the work of Cosmati-work artists and has 20 small Gothic columns with the capitals and small 
mosaic-covered arches. The top of the altar is made of a single marble slab measuring 3.8 x 1.80 meters). 
 

The Vaults 

The cross vaults act as a frame for one of the most important pictorial cycles of the entire complex. These works depict the splendid Allegories, which are extremely 
inspiring not only in their colors, but also in the movements and expressions of the subjects they portray. Done by an anonymous artist from the Giotto school who is 
identified simply as the Master of the Vaults, this cycle narrates the virtues that St. Francis had long preached: 
 

Allegory of Poverty (image)

Poverty sits on a rock, her feet resting on brambles, and she is poorly dressed. Christ takes her arm and puts it in Francis’, who puts a ring on her finger. This is Francis’ marriage to Lady Poverty, a wedding at which Christ himself is a guest. The scene is surrounded by angels and the first two figures seated to the right of Poverty are Hope and Charity. However, not everyone is happy about this occasion: one boy is about to hurl stones while another one continues to pile up more brambles. The last thre e figures on the right symbolize Pride, Envy and Avarice. 

Allegory of Chastity (image)

She looks like a young woman set high in the tower of a castle built on top of a rocky outcropping, and her hands are folded together in prayer. She is surrounded by two angels bearing a crown and a palm frond. On the lower left is St. Francis, who is encouraging three figures to approach charity. They are Brother John of Muro, St. Clare and Dante Alighieri, whereas the two angels in the middle assist in this purification. Instead, the figure on the right is hooded penance, who is pushing the enemies of ch astity into the abyss. 
 

Allegory of Obedience (image)

Obedience towers over everyone inside an arcade. Kneeling before the mythical winged figure gesturing for silence is a friar. Prudence is on the left and Humility is on the right. In this representation, Pride (the centaur on the right) has having a difficult time. St. Francis is on the roof of the arcade. 

The Triumph of St. Francis (image)

Depicted in the last allegory, which is near the apse, is the Triumph of St. Francis. The saint is seated on a throne and is holding up a book and a cross. Here, surrounded by joyous angels, he is the symbol of victor. 
 

Altar and Apse 

As you are facing the apse, there is a finely-wrought small channeled column that contains one of the ribs of St. John the Baptist. The fresco painted on the vaults of the apse is the work of Cesare Sermei and it depicts The Last Judgment. The wooden choir dates to 1471 and is the work of Apollonius Petrocchi. 

Right wall of the transept

 

Slaughter of the Innocents 

Birth of Jesus 

Flight to Egypt 
 

Washing of the Feet 

Jesus entering Jerusalem 

Judas’ Kiss 
 

The Crucifixion 

St. Francis is also depicted at the foot of the cross. 
  • Cimabue

Madonna with Child 

Our Lady is seated on a throne surrounded by angels. This painting is also very important because it give us Cimabue’s image of St. Francis, which is considered to be the most faithful portrait of the saint and is based on the description given by Thomas of Celano in his biography of St. Francis. 
  • St. Francis Master (thirteenth century)
Sermon to the Birds  

   

Saint Francis 

Saint Clare 
The Chapel of St. Francis’ Relics has been opened recently to the public. Preserved here are several of the saint’s possessions, such as a white robe he wore during his

illness, his tunic and sandals, his hood, a piece of leather he used to cover the wound in his side, the blessing he wrote in his own hand for Brother Leo and the Bull
confirming the Franciscan Rule.

Left wall of the transept

 

The Deposition of Christ 

The Resurrection of Christ 

The Last Supper 
 

Calvary 

The Crucifixion 
The Madonna of the Sunsets 
 
 
Next to the Madonna with Child are St. Francis and St. John. This painting is known as the "Madonna of the Sunsets" because at that time of the day, the colors in the painting turn to rich deep hues. Our Lady’s thumb is pointing enigmatically towards Francis.