The Story of Assisi

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The Story of Assisi

"Between Tupino, and the wave that falls From blest Ubaldo's chosen hill, there hangs Rich slope of mountain high, whence heat and cold Are wafted through Perugia's eastern gate: And Nocera with Gualdo, in its rear, Mourn for their heavy yoke. Upon that side, Where it doth break its steepness most, arose A sun upon the world, as duly this From Ganges doth: therefore let none who speak Of that place, say Ascesi; for its name Were lamely so deliver'd; but the East, To call things rightly, be it henceforth styled." DANTE, Paradiso, xi. (Cary's translation).

[Illustration: P. Lunghi. Photo. Statue of St. Francis. by Andrea della Robbia in Sta. Maria degli Angeli.]

The Story of Assisi

by Lina Duff Gordon

Illustrated by Nelly Erichsen and M. Helen James

London: J. M. Dent & Co.

Aldine House, 29 and 30 Bedford Street

Covent Garden, W.C. 1901

First Edition, December 1900

Second Edition, October 1901

All rights reserved

To Margaret Vaughan

this small book is affectionately dedicated in remembrance of days spent together in the Umbrian country

NOTE

My sincerest thanks are due to my aunt Mrs Ross, to Mrs Vaughan, Dr E. Percival Wright, M. Paul Sabatier, Mr Sidney Colvin, Sir William Markby and Mr Pearsall Smith, for the help rendered me in various ways during the writing of this book. I wish further to acknowledge the kindness of Mr Roger Fry who allowed me to quote from his lectures on Art delivered this year in London, before they were published in the New Monthly Review; and also the generous permission of Mr Anderson (Rome), and Signor Lunghi (Assisi), for allowing me to use their photographs. For the loan of old Italian books I am indebted to Cav. Bruschi, Librarian of the Marucelliana at Florence, to Professor Bellucci, Professor of the University of Perugia, and to Signor Rossi, proprietor of the Hotel Subasio at Assisi, whose intimate knowledge of his native town has been of great service to me.

L. D. G.

POGGIO GHERARDO, FLORENCE, October 1900.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I PAGE War and Strife 1

CHAPTER II

The Umbrian Prophet 39

CHAPTER III

The Carceri, Rivo-Torto and Life at the Portiuncula 81

CHAPTER IV

The building of the Basilica and Convent of San Francesco. The Story of Brother Elias 117

CHAPTER V

Cimabue and his School at San Francesco 149

CHAPTER VI

The Paintings of Giotto and his School in the Lower Church 168

CHAPTER VII

The Sienese Masters in the Lower Church. The Convent 198

CHAPTER VIII

Giotto's Legend of St. Francis in the Upper Church 228

CHAPTER IX

St. Clare at San Damiano. The Church of Santa Chiara 258

CHAPTER X

Other Buildings in the Town 289

CHAPTER XI

The Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli. The Feast of the Pardon of St. Francis or the "Perdono d'Assisi" 335

ILLUSTRATIONS

Statue of St. Francis by Andrea della Robbia in Sta. Maria degli Angeli (P. Lunghi--photo) Photogravure-Frontispiece

PAGE

The Temple of Minerva 3

The Eastern Slope of Assisi with the Castle, from the Porta Cappucini 10

The Guelph Lion of Assisi 22

The Arms of Assisi 37

Assisi in the time of St. Francis 38

Via di S. Maria delle Rose 58

The Arms of the Franciscans 80

Hermitage of the Carceri 82

The Carceri with a View of the Bridge 89

Side Door of the Portiuncula built by St. Benedict 99

The Portiuncula in the time of St. Francis, from the "Collis Paradisi" 107