The Procession of St. Gregory to the Castel Sant' Angelo
Giovanni di Paolo·1465
Historical Context
The Procession of St. Gregory to the Castel Sant'Angelo from 1465 depicts the famous sixth-century event when Pope Gregory the Great led a penitential procession to end a plague in Rome, reportedly seeing the Archangel Michael sheathing his sword atop the mausoleum of Hadrian. Giovanni di Paolo's depiction combines historical narrative with visionary elements. Characteristic of Paolo's approach, the work displays lyrical, decorative, gold-accented, combining Gothic elegance with expressive narrative.
Technical Analysis
The processional composition stretches across the panel with numerous small figures, while Giovanni di Paolo's fantastical architectural rendering transforms Rome's topography into an otherworldly cityscape.
