Death and Ascension of Saint John the Evangelist

The Death and Ascension of Saint John the Evangelist occupies the lower register of the Evangelist cycle in the Peruzzi Chapel. The scene represents the legendary end of Saint John's life, when he enters his tomb and is miraculously raised into heaven. Giotto transforms the extraordinary story into a lucid composition centered on the saint's ascent and the reactions of those witnessing the event. Saint John appears at the center, rising from the tomb toward a group of heavenly figures who bend down to receive him.

His body forms a strong diagonal that establishes the upward movement governing the entire image. The direction of his arms and the gazes of the angels reinforce this ascent. The episode derives from a medieval legend rather than a canonical account.