Tornabuoni Chapel - Structure of The Cycle

Structure of The Cycle

The cycle portrays on three walls the Life of the Virgin and the Life of St John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence. The left and right walls each have three rows, each divided into two rectangular scenes framed by fictive architecture, and surmounted by a large lunette beneath the vault. Each side wall has a total of seven narrative scenes which are read beginning from the bottom.

The chancel wall has a large mullioned window of three lights with stained glass, provided in 1492 by Alessandro Agolanti after Ghirlandaio's design. On the lower part of the wall is a donor portrait of Giovanni Tornabuoni and his wife Francesca Pitti, while on either side of the window are four smaller scenes portraying Dominican saints. Above the window is another large lunette, containing the Coronation of the Virgin. In the vault are depicted the Four Evangelists.

The life of the Blessed Virgin

The scenes are on the left side of the chapel:

  1. The Expulsion of Joachim from the Temple
  2. The Nativity of Mary
  3. Presentation of Mary at the Temple
  4. The Marriage of the Virgin
  5. The Annunciation (central wall, mid-left)
  6. The Nativity of Christ (Adoration of the Magi)
  7. The Massacre of the Innocents
  8. The Death and Assumption of the Virgin (lunette)
  9. The Coronation of the Virgin (lunette on central wall)

The life of St John the Baptist

The scenes on the right side of the chapel are:

  1. The Apparition of the Angel to Zechariah
  2. The Visitation
  3. The Birth of the Baptist
  4. Zechariah Writes His Son's Name
  5. St. John in the Desert (central wall, mid-right)
  6. The Preaching of the Baptist
  7. The Baptism of Christ
  8. Herod's Banquet (lunette)

Dominican saints and the donors

The scenes of the upper and lower tiers of the central wall are:

  1. St. Dominic Tests Books in the Fire
  2. The Killing of St. Peter Martyr
  3. The patron Giovanni Tornabuoni
  4. The patron, his wife Francesca Pitti

The four Evangelists

Depicted on the vault are:

  1. St. John the Evangelist
  2. St. Matthew
  3. St. Luke
  4. St. Mark


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