The frescoes by Giotto and Taddeo Gaddi are one of the highlights of Santa Croce Church in Florence. Here we’ll explore in details the series of frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi, that are in the right transept of the Baroncelli Chapel. These frescoes depict scenes from the ‘Life of the Virgin Mary’ and include the “Annunciation to the Shepherds”, famous for being the first night scene to be shown in an Italian fresco.
In this series of frescoes, Taddeo Gaddi – according to Vasari the best of Giotto’s pupils and one of the top Florentine artists in the first half of 14th century – takes on the lessons from his master, but introduces some personal elements, moving from Giotto’s naturalism towards a style that is more ornamental.
He started working at the Baroncelli Chapel, that became his most famous work, in 1328. And today his radiant frescoes are one of the highlights of this Franciscan Basilica in Florence. They are centuries old, but look and feel alive, vibrant. Of all Santa Croce’s frescoed chapels, none has retained as much of its original appearance as the Baroncelli Chapel.
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Frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi in Santa Croce Church – Baroncelli Chapel
Taddeo Gaddi was not as interested in naturalism and narrative clarity as Giotto was. In his scenes he gave more attention to picturesque decorative details than to dramatic realism. As a result, his scenes look wonderfully colourful and lively but art critics agree that, compared to his master’s works, they lack dramatic depth and focus.
=> You can see for yourself if you visit Giotto series of frescoes in the nearby Bardi and Peruzzi Chapel, with scenes from the Life of Saint Francis. Here Giotto’s simple and clear composition help creating drama.
Gaddi, in working at the decoration of the Baroncelli Chapel, employed the technical achievements of his master, adding his own taste and experimenting with light and colour.
The subject -> Scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary are depicted on the left wall when you enter the chapel.
The “Marriage of the Virgin” is arguably the most similar to Giotto’s style. Here the artist creates a conventional scene. But Gaddi’s elongated figures – that reveal Gothic influences – the bright colours, and the building’s ornate decorations compete for the viewer’s attention, diluting the dramatic impact of the scene.
In the lunette at the top, “The Expulsion of Joachim from the temple” – in which the elderly future father of Mary has been expelled as unworthy because he has yet to father a child – the temple is elaborately designed, and templegoers have been introduced to enliven the narrative. On the right side we see Joachim praying for the favour of God, that appears to him in form of an angel.
The first thing you notice when admiring Gaddi’s frescoes in Santa Croce Church is that some are night scenes, with luminous pastel colours used on a large void of darkness in the background.
His experiments with light are highly effective, especially in this sublimely radiant “Annunciation to the Shepherds“.
This is the most famous fresco of this series, as it’s considered to be the first night scene ever depicted in Western art.
The supernatural light diffuses from the sky, where the divine angel appears.
Because of the lack of cast shadow, it looks like the shepherd’s body is floating above the rock, giving the scene an otherwordly feel.
Image Web Gallery of Art
In the scene of “Adoration of the Magi” (bottom right of the altar) the same divine light makes an appearance in the dark sky, accompanying the miraculous birth.
Tree of Life and Last Supper frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi in Santa Croce Church
Taddeo Gaddi also frescoed the refectory of Santa Croce. Here you can admire his Last Supper and a huge Tree of Life, that has at its centre the crucified Christ.
Here Gaddi goes back to Giotto’s lesson, creating somber, simple scenes using earthy colours. Gaddi gives depth to his fresco by giving the table a tri-dimensional look, creating the impression that the apostles are sitting in front of the decorated wall. Following the New Testament, the painter depicts young John sleeping next to Jesus, and the traitor Judas sitting alone across the table. He’s the only one without the halo.
Surrounding the Tree of Life are various scenes: the Stigmatisation of St. Francis (top left) and three religious stories associated with food.
It was traditional to decorate the wall of the monasteries’ refectory with the Last Supper, so that the monks would dine in silence contemplating the scene with Christ sitting with the apostle. Christ’s farewell to them happened on the evening before his crucifixion, while they were having dinner together, when Christ announced that he would be betrayed by one of them.
This is the earliest representation of the Last Supper in Florence, and the scheme was to be followed by many artists => see Ghirlandaio’s frescoes of the Last Supper in San Marco Convent (1486) and Ognissanti Church, and Andrea del Castagno’s Last Supper in Sant’Apollonia.
Following Giotto’s death in 1337, Gaddi became the leader of Giotto’s school in Florence. His frescoes in Santa Croce Church are considered his masterpieces.
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