Devil found in detail of Giotto fresco in Italy's Assisi

[The Straight Story]

Devil found in detail of Giotto fresco in Italy's Assisi

ROME (Reuters) - Art restorers have discovered the figure of a devil hidden in the clouds of one of the most famous frescos by Giotto in the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, church officials said on Saturday.

The devil was hidden in the details of clouds at the top of fresco number 20 in the cycle of the scenes in the life and death of St Francis painted by Giotto in the 13th century.

The discovery was made by Italian art historian Chiara Frugone. It shows a profile of a figure with a hooked nose, a sly smile, and dark horns hidden among the clouds in the panel of the scene depicting the death of St Francis.

The figure is difficult to see from the floor of the basilica but emerges clearly in close-up photography.

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/PUGt5Wsh_SDmdPdY9YIM2A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zMDE7cT04NTt3PTQ1MA--/

http://tinyurl.com/7apm9ov

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Ron Howard presents "Il Cifrario di Giotto" (The Giotto Code)

[NYC_SKP]

2. I don't think it was intentional. It's scarcely visible and not particularly scary...

It could just as well be described as an old woman.

It's a cloud, after all, like Rorschach test...

:P

[deucemagnet]

3. I don't see it.

Maybe I should try looking in a toasted bagel or a damp underpass.

[catbyte]

4. Me neither

[closeupready]

6. I don't see it, either.

Where is it - anyone?

[The Straight Story]

7. Only those born again can see it

Sinner.

:evilgrin:

[nc4bo]

10. You're bad

:rofl::rofl::hi:

[CTyankee]

9. It's a devil in profile on the right edge of the cloud looking at the figure covered

in a sheet. If you move your eyes along that edge slowly it will form...it took me a while, too, and I know these frescoes pretty well...

[deucemagnet]

15. Now I see Yoshi from Mario Bros. n/t

[slackmaster]

5. So the devil really is in the details after all

:kick:

[nc4bo]

8. I found it here...

Hope it's big enough for you to see.

[WolverineDG]

11. Could be anything really

could be a self-portrait or a caricature.

dg

[piratefish08]

12. i just went and stared at the clouds for about 90 seconds.

that's how long it took to find a devil head with a horn.

it turned into a rhinoceros. God is very confusing in his imagery.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Nope. The 'horn' there is not placed properly to be attached to the skull.

The base of the horn is at a 45 degree angle to the skull, and you can see the forehead curve creating a line that does not connect with the horn, leaving it looking more like he's balancing it on top of his head.

IMO, the cloud face was likeliest to be a self-portrait by the artist, hidden in his work, like a signature.

[Arctic Dave]

14. Why is the devil staring at his junk?

Geez devil, get a room.

[undeterred]

16. Isn't the Devil always in the details?

I can't believe I was the first person to say that.