Saint James chapel, Gothic chapel in Basilica of Saint Anthony, Padua, Italy.
Saint James Chapel is an International Gothic chapel located within the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua. Its walls are covered with frescoes by Altichiero da Zevio depicting scenes from the life of Saint James and the Crucifixion.
The chapel was commissioned in 1372 by Bonifacio Lupi with architect Andriolo de Santi overseeing its design. It emerged during a period when Gothic architecture was evolving and reshaping the artistic landscape of northern Italy.
The chapel demonstrates how medieval artists used painted scenes to help ordinary worshippers understand religious stories without needing to read. The frescoes speak directly to visitors through their vivid depiction of faith and devotion.
You can enter the chapel through the main entrance of the Basilica, which is open to visitors year-round. Since it is located inside, weather does not affect your visit and you can view the frescoes at your own pace.
The frescoes demonstrate remarkable advances in depicting spatial depth and perspective that 14th-century Italian artists were developing. These techniques were so innovative that they anticipated the coming Renaissance and opened new ways of showing three-dimensional scenes on flat walls.
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