The Making of Assisi: The Pope, the Franciscans, and the Painting of the Basilica by Donal Cooper and Janet Robson

A groundbreaking re-evaluation of the frescoes in Assisi's Basilica of San Francesco challenges traditional views on patronage and authorship, revealing that the pictorial program was shaped more by local Franciscan leaders—specifically Provincial Ministers and Custodians—than by Pope Nicholas IV or the Curia. Through meticulous prosopographical analysis and a fresh visual examination of the murals' context within the basilica, Cooper and Robson demonstrate that the frescoes evolved dynamically during their creation (1288–1297), reflecting a collaborative workshop driven by intellectual and administrative expertise rooted in Assisi's Franciscan community. This work reframes the role of Nicholas IV as a commissioner rather than a primary influencer, advancing understanding of the frescoes' conceptualization and execution.

Bolgia, C. (2017). The Making of Assisi: The Pope, the Franciscans, and the Painting of the Basilica by Donal Cooper and Janet Robson. The Catholic Historical Review, 103(2), 338–339. https://doi.org/10.1353/cat.2017.0102