They say the devil is in the details, but they generally don’t mean that literally. In the case of a fresco painted by Italian artist Giotto in the 13th Century, the devil literally is in the details. Historians have discovered a devil face depicted in the clouds in a fresco depicting the life of St. Francis of Assisi. The chief restorer of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, Sergio Fusetti, the chief restorer of the basilica, believes Giotto added the devil to the fresco detailing the life of St. Francis “to have a bit of fun,” adding that the image may be someone Giotto knew personally.
The demonic image was discovered by art historian Chiara Frugone, who apparently spotted the Satanic cameo in a high-resolution photograph. The figure has a hooked nose, a sly smile, and dark horns. He is hidden in the clouds in the death panel of a cycle of scenes depicting the life and death of St. Francis of Assisi. The Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi is located in a convent where St. Francis of Assisi is buried.
St. Francis of Assisi is one of Catholicism’s chief saints and one of the most influential religious men of all time. He was a direct founder of three monastic movements, the men’s Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis.
Tags: devil found in church fresco, the devil found in church painting, Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Giotto, 13th century fresco contains the devil in the clouds, St. Francis of Assisi, Italy, Chiara Frugone, unusual paintings, funny paintings, devil face painted in clouds in church, the devil, Catholic Church, Catholicism, Sergio Fusetti, Franciscan Order, Order of St. Clare, Third Order of Saint Francis
