Giotto's Assisi frescoes, which preceded these, anticipate them; but in some cases these are considered to be better, although in others not so good.

It is generally agreed that the death scene is the best.

Note the characteristic touch by which Giotto makes one of the monks at the head of the bed look up at the precise moment when the saint dies, seeing him being received into heaven.

According to Vasari, one of the two monks (on the extreme left, as I suppose) is Giotto's portrait of the architect of the church, Amolfo.

The altar picture, consisting of many more scenes in the life of S.Francis, is often attributed to Cimabue, Giotto's master, but probably is by another hand.