Description
In this scene from the Chapel of Saint Martin at Assisi, Simone Martini depicts the young saint taking part in a solemn military ceremony. An imperial figure girds him with a sword as an attendant kneels to adjust his footwear; courtiers, soldiers and musicians look on.
The fresco transposes the story of a Roman soldier into the world of medieval knighthood. Rich clothing, musical instruments and palace architecture show how the Sienese artist recast the saint’s life in the courtly language of his own age.
The sword, attendants and musicians evoke the prestige of military advancement in medieval court society. Within the larger sequence, this ceremony stands in contrast to Martin’s later rejection of weapons. Simone therefore combines a vivid account of aristocratic customs with the religious story of a young man who will choose a very different path from the one being celebrated.
