San Francesco, Arezzo

The unveiling of Piero della Francesca's fresco cycle in the apse of this church was one of the artistic events of recent years. The apse of this Franciscan church is covered with scenes from the Legend of the True Cross, a rather obscure subject. On the right the main frescoes depict a delightful scene of the Queen of Sheba worshipping the Holy Wood, made from the tree which grew on Adam's grave, before she meets Solomon to explain the mystery, a rare and atmospheric night scene of the future Emperor Constantine dreaming of the Cross, and his Victory over Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian Bridge. On the left Constantine's mother St Helena discovers the True Cross and the Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persian King Khosroes who had stolen the Cross. Between c.1452 and 1466 Piero worked on the cycle, painting his impassive figures in pale colours unified by a clear Tuscan light. They remain his greatest achievement.