Saints Clare and Francis by Simone Martini

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Simone Martini (1284–1344) was an Italian painter born in Siena and one of the foremost figures in the development of early Italian painting. A major influence on the International Gothic style, Simone is often associated with a refined elegance and spiritual sensitivity that distinguished Sienese art from the more monumental Florentine tradition. He was a pupil of Giotto di Bondone, and together they are believed to have worked at the Old St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where Giotto also executed a mosaic. Though documentation of Simone’s life is scarce, his frescoes in the San Martino Chapel in the lower church of the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi remain among his most celebrated achievements.

This particular fresco fragment, attributed to Simone Martini, depicts Saint Clare standing just behind Saint Francis (to the left of the composition), both gazing reverently toward the sky. The scene likely belonged to a larger work, possibly one depicting Christ on the Cross, judging by the upward direction of their gaze and the expressions of awe that animate their faces. Their slightly open mouths and luminous golden halos convey both humility and wonder, hallmarks of Simone’s refined spiritual style.

Saint Clare is shown holding a rosary between her joined hands in quiet prayer, while Saint Francis appears absorbed in contemplation. The pairing of the two saints reflects their profound spiritual kinship—Clare as the first and most devoted follower of Francis—and the Franciscan ideal of shared contemplation and simplicity.

Simone’s delicate brushwork, the harmonious interplay of color and gold, and the ethereal atmosphere all point to the transition between Gothic linearity and early Renaissance naturalism. The fragment, though incomplete, captures the emotional depth and spiritual intimacy that would come to define Franciscan imagery in the Italian Gothic tradition.

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This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.