Artwork
Copy after the painting Posthumous Miracle of St Francis by a follower of Giotto in the Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi
Copy after the painting Posthumous Miracle of St Francis by a follower of Giotto in the Lower 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.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour painting is a 19th-century copy of a work attributed to a follower of Giotto, specifically replicating the 'Posthumous Miracle of St Francis' from the Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi. Created by Eduard Kaiser in 1874 for the Arundel Society, it bears his monogram.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a posthumous miracle of St Francis, with the saint, identifiable by his golden halo, leaning from a raised platform to interact with a man below, surrounded by a crowd of kneeling and reverent onlookers in medieval attire.
Technique & Style
The work employs chiaroscuro, with light sourced from above to illuminate the saint's halo and cast shadows on the faces of the crowd, visually distinguishing the holy figure from the onlookers. The setting is framed by arches and columns, evoking a church interior.
History & Provenance
Commissioned by the Arundel Society in 1874, the painting remains in private holdings and has not been published. It is signed with Eduard Kaiser's monogram.
Context
As a copy of a Giotto follower's work, it reflects the 19th-century interest in medieval and early Renaissance art, facilitated by societies like the Arundel, which aimed to promote and reproduce historical artworks.
Legacy
Due to its unpublished and private nature, the painting's impact on the broader art historical discourse or public awareness is currently minimal.
Artist & collection
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