著者

Shigemi SHIMOMURA

出版者

美学会

雑誌

美学 (ISSN:05200962)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.71, no.1, pp.85-96, 2020 (Released:2022-02-16)

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Agnolo Gaddi (active 1369-98) was one of the Giotteschi painters in Trecento Florence whose masterpiece, the Legend of the True Cross fresco cycle, adorns the Franciscan Basilica di Santa Croce’s Cappella Maggiore in Florence. In this article, I analyze the recently restored frescoes to revisit the Trecento expression of light and color. The works of Agnolo, although he has not much discussed, are characterized by a gentle and pale expression of color—through the cangiante mode of painting—that gives a sense of unity and harmony to the entire cycle. In particular, I examine the effect of cangiante and the use of gold and tin metal foil on the murals. Taking into account the light source, i.e., daylight from the chapel windows, I discuss the fresco cycle’s overall color and decorative characteristics. As it is written in Bonaventure’s doctrine of light, it would be possible to conclude that the expression of beautiful light is to praise God. Agnolo’s frescos depict a world of God filled with light. In that sense, it can be said that these frescos are a supreme decoration befitting a house of God.