Recognition of the True Cross (detail) 1466

Piero della Francesca painted this fresco, a detail from the Legend of the True Cross, in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo, Italy, sometime in the 15th century. The fresco speaks to the power of religious relics in the social and political life of Renaissance Italy. Here, a man is miraculously revived upon contact with the True Cross. The visual codes are clear: the man is nearly nude and appears lifeless before being resurrected, attesting to the cross’s divine power. This scene underscores the Catholic Church’s authority and emphasizes the cross’s significance as a symbol of salvation. The cultural context of this artwork is particularly interesting. The legend itself, and paintings such as this one, played a vital role in shaping religious beliefs and solidifying the Church’s influence in society. To fully appreciate it, research into religious practices of the time, civic patronage of religious art, and the biographies of the patrons who commissioned the work would all be helpful starting points.