Pictures

Photo

Reuters Photojournalism

Our day's top images, in-depth photo essays and offbeat slices of life. See the best of Reuters photography.  See more | Photo caption 

Photo

Best of Cannes

Style and scenes from the Cannes Film Festival.  Slideshow 

Photo

Ethiopia's salt trails

For centuries merchants have traveled to Ethiopia to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin.  Slideshow 

Sponsored Links

Devil found in detail of Giotto fresco in Italy's Assisi

Related Topics

1 of 2. A detail of a fresco by Giotto in the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi is seen in this picture released on November 5, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Basilica of St Francis in Assisi/Handout

ROME | Sat Nov 5, 2011 9:20am EDT

ROME (Reuters) - Art restorers have discovered the figure of a devil hidden in the clouds of one of the most famous frescos by Giotto in the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, church officials said on Saturday.

The devil was hidden in the details of clouds at the top of fresco number 20 in the cycle of the scenes in the life and death of St Francis painted by Giotto in the 13th century.

The discovery was made by Italian art historian Chiara Frugone. It shows a profile of a figure with a hooked nose, a sly smile, and dark horns hidden among the clouds in the panel of the scene depicting the death of St Francis.

The figure is difficult to see from the floor of the basilica but emerges clearly in close-up photography.

Sergio Fusetti, the chief restorer of the basilica, said Giotto probably never wanted the image of the devil to be a main part of the fresco and may have painted it in among the clouds "to have a bit of fun."

The master may have painted it to spite someone he knew by portraying him as a devil in the painting, Fusetti said on the convent's website.

The artwork in the basilica in the convent where St Francis is buried was last restored after it was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1997.

(Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Sophie Hares)
Lifestyle
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
Comments (17)
JerryLan wrote:
I remember this painting from my art history class in 1982. There are at least three OTHER images in the clouds as well. The devil is the most obvious. The idea that this person just now “discovered” this is absolutely ridiculous.

Nov 05, 2011 10:46pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
Anonymousnyc wrote:
This is a wonderful painting. There are other images that are disguised such as the image of a man’s face with his mouth open after seeing the devil. Look at the three angels on the upper left hand corner of the painting carefully to view this site.

Nov 06, 2011 8:08am EST  --  Report as abuse
Paula.L.Evans wrote:
ok..Either I don’t ever see the devil in beauty, or I just don’t see it. Maybe this is another case of pareidolia? Either way, this painting remains beautiful, and I don’t see a devil :) Good luck to all, and God bless.

Nov 06, 2011 8:31am EST  --  Report as abuse
This discussion is now closed. We welcome comments on our articles for a limited period after their publication.
See All Comments »