Peruzzi Chapel, Gothic chapel in Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy
The Peruzzi Chapel is a Gothic space within the Basilica of Santa Croce with two walls covered in large frescoes. The images depict scenes from the lives of Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, while the arch above displays eight prophet busts and the vault shows symbols of the four Evangelists.
The chapel was built in 1318 after wealthy banker Donato Peruzzi left money for this space in his will. The wall paintings were created later as among the first works by the artist Giotto in this basilica.
The frescoes tell stories from the Bible and show how important the veneration of John was to the wealthy Peruzzi family. When you look at the walls, you see how religious art and family pride were intertwined.
The chapel is located in the right transept of the basilica and is easy to reach from the main entrances. Since lighting can be dim, the upper areas with the prophet busts are best seen if you take time for your eyes to adjust.
The frescoes in this space show some of the artist Giotto's early attempts to show human feelings through facial expressions and body postures. These subtle details are easy to miss when looking at the large scenes, but they make a real difference when viewed up close.
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