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Armed Mongols in the Oratory of San Giorgio of Padua in the Late Fourteenth Century
A new analysis reveals that the armed Mongols depicted in Padua’s Oratory of San Giorgio, painted by Altichiero in the late 14th century, carry significant religious and political symbolism. By comparing contemporary Chinese visual materials, a Persian manuscript, and Western and non-Western knights’ armor, researchers have decoded how Altichiero represented Mongolian features and attire with precision. The frescoes, commissioned by a knightly family in a Franciscan church, likely served as propaganda, reflecting the complex military and political landscape of Padua during this period.
Diagrammatic Thinking and the Division of Life into Ages
Fourteenth-century diagrams, particularly those by Francesco da Barberino, revealed that visual representations of life's stages and aging were not mere illustrations but active tools shaping intellectual discourse. These diagrams, including the first known female cycle of life in his Officiolo, integrated advancements in physical science, theology, and jurisprudence, serving as complementary sources to textual knowledge. The study highlights Padova's role as a hub for interdisciplinary exchange, where diagrammatic thinking bridged legal norms with visual expression, illustrating how medieval scholars used images to organize complex ideas about aging, the cosmos, and societal structures.
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