Rinuccini Chapel (basilica of Santa Croce) 1370

Giovanni da Milano created this fresco in the Rinuccini Chapel, Basilica of Santa Croce, employing layering of color to define shape. The soft gradations of light and shadow create a sense of volume, particularly in the rendering of the angel and the monk’s robes. The dark, muted tones of the landscape contrast with the vibrant colors of the figures, drawing our eye to their presence. Giovanni’s skill in manipulating paint to mimic texture is evident here, a characteristic of late medieval painting. The composition, with its division between the earthly and the divine, creates a dialogue between the material and the ethereal. The structural arrangement invites a semiotic reading. The angel, bathed in golden light, acts as a signifier of divine grace, while the monk, shrouded in earthly garb, embodies human striving. This contrast destabilizes fixed notions of spiritual ascent and underscores the complex relationship between the human and the divine. The interplay of light and shadow is a testament to Giovanni's sophisticated approach to depicting religious narrative.