Artwork

Copy after the painting Death of St Francis by the Master of the St Francis cycle in the Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi

Copy after the painting Death of St Francis by the Master of the St Francis cycle in the Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Edward Kaiser. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. In 1874, Eduard Kaiser produced a watercolour copy of the medieval fresco depicting the Death of St.

About this work

Overview

Created for the Arundel Society, this reproduction was intended to document early Italian devotional art but was never printed or distributed.

In 1874, Eduard Kaiser produced a watercolour copy of the medieval fresco depicting the Death of St. Francis, originally painted by the Master of the St. Francis cycle in Assisi’s Upper Church. Created for the Arundel Society, this reproduction was intended to document early Italian devotional art but was never printed or distributed. The work remains a private study, bearing Kaiser’s inscription in ink, and preserves the composition and mood of its 13th-century source.

Subject & Meaning

The scene portrays the moment of St. Francis’s death, surrounded by his followers in a quiet, reverent gathering. Figures in simple robes stand or kneel near his body, some holding staffs, their gestures conveying grief and devotion. The architectural backdrop, featuring a domed structure, suggests a sacred interior space. The composition emphasizes communal mourning and spiritual transition, aligning with Franciscan ideals of humility and communal faith.

Technique & Style

Kaiser employed watercolour with restrained brushwork to replicate the fresco’s tonal harmony. The palette is dominated by earthy browns, muted beiges, and soft blues, avoiding vivid contrasts to preserve the original’s solemnity. Delicate layering and minimal detail reflect the limitations of the medium while honoring the fresco’s flattened perspective and stylized figures, characteristic of late medieval Italian painting.

History & Provenance

The watercolour was commissioned by the Arundel Society, a 19th-century British organization dedicated to preserving early art through reproductions. Though prepared for publication, it was never released, likely due to shifting scholarly priorities or aesthetic preferences. Kaiser’s copy remains in private or institutional hands, valued as a historical record rather than a standalone artwork.

Context

Kaiser’s work emerged during a period of renewed interest in medieval art, driven by antiquarian societies seeking to document pre-Renaissance imagery. While contemporaneous movements like Impressionism explored light and modern life, this copy served a documentary purpose, aligning with Victorian-era efforts to preserve religious and architectural heritage through faithful reproduction.

Legacy

Though unpublished, Kaiser’s watercolour contributes to the archival record of the Assisi frescoes, offering insight into 19th-century approaches to medieval art conservation. It reflects the era’s scholarly impulse to transmit visual heritage before photography became widespread. Its existence underscores the enduring interest in St. Francis’s iconography across centuries.