Cimabue's fresco of the "Madonna Enthroned with Child, Angels and St. Francis," also known as the "Majesty of Assisi," has been restored to its former glory also thanks to the contribution of the car manufacturer Ferrari. The renovation lasted a year. The fresco, the first created by Cimabue inside the Basilica of San Francesco, dates from 1285 to 1290 and is famous not only for its depiction of the Virgin enthroned, but also for what is thought to be one of the oldest and most reliable portraits of St. Francis himself, created, according to tradition, based on the indications of those who knew him personally. Produced using a dry technique, which diminishes its durability over time, the fresco has undergone several restorations since the 1500s, leading to substantial alterations. The restoration of Cimabue's Majesty is part of a larger endeavor to maintain and conserve the history housed within the Basilica of San Francesco, which was made even more urgent by the earthquakes of recent decades.
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