Capella Baroncelli (Santa Croce)

The left (eastern) wall of the chapel is painted with frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi (1328-1338) with scenes from the life of Mary ^{[1] [2]} ( general view ):

• The expulsion of Joachim from the temple ( photo ); Dream of Joachim ( photo )
• The meeting of Joachim and Anna at the Golden Gate; Mary's Christmas
• Mary's introduction to the temple; Marriage of Mary and Joseph

The right wall is occupied by the fresco of Sebastiano Maynardi (1490) "Madonna with a Belt" ^[3] ( general view , fragment 1 , fragment 2 ).

Altar polyptych, the so-called Baroncelli polyptych (c. 1328-1334) ( general view , central panel ), judging by the inscription OPUS MAGISTRI JOCTI (above the predella ) and the evidence of Ghiberti and Vasari ^[4] - the work of Giotto. However, based on stylistic analysis, researchers identify in some parts of the polyptych the work of Giotto's students, including Taddeo Gaddy. Some researchers directly questioned the direct involvement of Giotto himself and the work is entirely attributed to Taddeo Gaddy.

Stylistically belongs to the circle of the late works of Giotto and his students, in which there is an increase in Gothic tendencies, manifested in more refined outlines of figures and an increase in general decorativeness. However, the kneeling angels at the bottom of the central panel are stylistically close to the likes of the Madonna Onisanti ^[5] Giotto.

The central panel represents the coronation of Mary . The side panels represent the choirs of angels and saints glorifying Mary. In the hands of the angels you can see musical instruments - viels , portable organs , guerners , psalteria , trumpets . Above the making angels are saints. Among them are identified on the first panel (from left to right) - St. Clara and St. Francis; on the second - the apostle Peter (with the key), Moses (with the tablets of the Testament), Adam and Eve (in the red maforia ); on the fourth, the apostle Paul, Abraham, and John the Baptist; on the fifth - saints Stephen and Lawrence. At the bottom, in the predella, are small images (from left to right) of an unidentified holy bishop, John the Baptist, Christ, St. Francis and St. Onufry.

The existing carving of the polyptych is later, as well as the red images of the cherubs at the top between the panels. Presumably they are the work of Sebastiano Maynardi. Apparently, in connection with the manufacture of this new frame, the gable top of the central panel was cut off. In 1957, Federico Zeri suggested that the top with the image of God the Father and the angels stored at the San Diego Museum of Art ( USA ) is this cut off pommel of the Baroncelli polyptych, which was subsequently confirmed by technical analysis.

The stained-glass windows of the left window are created by Taddeo Gaddy. Above is the coat of arms of Baroncelli, below is the stigmatization of St. Francis ^{[6] [7]} ( photo ), even lower is the image of the prophets and saints.

In the wall to the right of the entrance to the chapel is the tomb of the Baroncelli family by Giovanni di Balduccio (c. 1328-1330) ^[8] .

Giovanni di Balduccio is also the author of the statues of the archangel Gabriel ( photo 1 , photo 2 ) and Maria ( photo 1 , photo 2 ) on the sides of the entrance to the chapel.

Statue of the Madonna and Child in the chapel - Vincenzo Danti (1568) ( photo 1 , photo 2 ).