The Scrovegni Chapel in Padua is home to one of the most delicate and precious works of art in the world – the frescoes painted by Giotto between 1303 and 1305. The beauty of these frescoes is so great that visitors must sit in a decontamination chamber for 15 minutes before entering the chapel, to protect the paintings from any harmful substances.
Giotto’s work in the Scrovegni Chapel is considered one of his first mature masterpieces and an important milestone in the development of western painting. The frescoes are vaulted by a starry sky, with Christ and Mary at the two centres, and the Last Judgment in the west and the Annunciation in the east, witnessed by God, framing the nave of the church.
Enrico Scrovegni, son of the rich Reginaldo, had built the church and dedicated to Saint Mary of Charity in 1305, hoping for redemption for his father and the salvation of his own soul. The Arena Chapel frescoes are also attributed to Giotto and are considered another of his masterpieces.
The Scrovegni Chapel is a true treasure of art, and a testament to the remarkable skill and creativity of Giotto, one of the greatest painters in history.
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