Funeral of St. Augustine 1465

Benozzo Gozzoli painted "Funeral of St. Augustine" here in the Sant'Agostino Church in San Gimignano. The fresco presents a scene of solemn reverence through its detailed figuration and architectural framing, which together evoke both loss and contemplative peace. Gozzoli’s composition is structured by a series of horizontal layers. At the forefront, the friars are gathered in mourning around the body of Saint Augustine. Behind them, the architecture of the monastery recedes into the background, creating a sense of depth, while above, angels attend Augustine’s ascent to heaven. The arch above the scene mirrors the curve of the painted architecture, enclosing the scene and focusing our gaze on the central narrative. Gozzoli masterfully uses linear perspective to guide the viewer's eye, while the variation in the monks' robes—from somber blues to stark whites—adds visual rhythm to the scene. Here, Gozzoli uses the language of form and perspective to construct a visual narrative about spiritual transition and communal memory, inviting us to reflect on the intersections between earthly life and divine promise.