Saint Francis before the Pope (The Approval of the Franciscan Rule)
1390/1400
Medium
Tempera on panel
Dimensions
88.7 × 62.9 cm (34 7/8 × 24 3/4 in.); Framed: 105.4 × 79.4 cm (41 1/2 × 31 1/4 in.)
Classification
tempera
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
16228
Art Historical Context
In the late 14th century, painter Spinello Aret captured a pivotal moment in Christian history with *Saint Francis before the PopeThe Approval of the Franciscan)*, created between 1390 and 1400. This tempera on panel depicts Saint Francis of Assisi humbly presenting his revolutionary Rule—emphasizing poverty, humility, and service to the poor—to Pope Innocent III for formal approval around 1209. The Franciscan Order's endorsement marked a transformative shift in medieval monasticism, inspiring widespread devotion and reform amid the Church's growing wealth. Aretino, a Tuscan artist rooted in ...