The Birth of Propaganda: Saint Francis Alterpeice

Bonavantura Berlingheri lead the Italo- Byzantine Style by combining Byzantine art and highlights some of St. Francis's most noble achievements in a naturalistic style. Why a piece of propaganda? Bonavantura Berlingheri highlights the miracles St. Francis preformed during his lifetime, but his altarpiece was created 9 years after his death.

Completed at a time when the Papal states were in disarray (The Great Schism, MEndicant Orders, and Confraternities), the St. Francis attempted to persuade Christian's to devout their life to the Church, as St. Francis had. The life of a monk meant being completely stripped of all pleasures in life. St. Francis exemplified this belief by going to such an extent as stripping in public, a register that is shown on his altarpiece. 

There are six registers on St. Francis's altarpiece. The top left register shows St. Francis receiving the stigmata (the wounds placed on his hands to shows his devotion to God). The register below this one shows St. Francis preaching to the birds. The register below him preaching to the birds shows him preaching to townspeople, possibly the poor, from a carriage, while he was on a pilgrimage. The top and bottom registers on the right hand side show him helping others, possibly the poor again. The middle register on the right hand side shows him stripping in a public square proving his devotion to God. 

At a time when the church seemed to be failing, their attempt to recruit followers seems a bit stretched. Although St. Francis's gestures towards the poor and devotion to God are noble acts, his sacrifice to God and self inflicted wounds make the life of a monk not appealing.