dossale opistografico (Maestro di San Francesco)

This double-sided dossal (dossale opistografico) by the Master of Saint Francis, dating to around 1272, is a rare example of a panel painted on both sides, designed to be viewed from the nave and the choir of a church. Such double-sided altarpieces served the liturgical needs of both clergy and laity in mendicant churches. The work demonstrates the inventiveness of Umbrian Gothic workshops in developing new formats for devotional art that accommodated the evolving architectural and liturgical requirements of Franciscan churches.

Executed in tempera and gold on a wooden panel prepared on both sides, this unusual format required careful structural engineering to prevent warping. The painting displays the Master of Saint Francis's characteristic clear outlines and expressive figural style, adapted to serve two distinct viewing audiences within the church.