Cuernavaca Cathedral: The Spiritual Lineage of St. Francis

In an earlier post we analyzed an important fresco in the open chapel of the former Franciscan convento of Cuernavaca, now the cathedral. 
   The principal theme of that mural, St. Francis presenting the Rule of his Order to Pope Innocent III, is also portrayed, along with other episodes in Franciscan history, in another unique and complex fresco located in the adjacent cloister. 

The Cloister 
Simple channeled arches on all four sides sit on squat pillars with plain ring moldings around this early Franciscan cloister. 

Only fragments remain of the large murals that once lined the walks. Today, the best preserved of these is the so called Spiritual Lineage of St. Francis, in fact an extraordinarily detailed Franciscan martyrology in medieval style. (A Dominican version can be seen at Santiago Cuilapan)

The mural is bordered by the Franciscan knotted cord and flanked by fluttering angels similar to those in the north doorway.  Rows of diminutive nuns and friars, each holding a Latin name plaque, flank a center panel illustrating key scenes from the life of St. Francis, also copiously inscribed.  
   These comprise his appearance before the Pope Innocent—a reprise of the scene in the open chapel—and before the Bishop of Assisi. Above is his Stigmatization on Mount La Verna.

St Francis receiving the Stigmata

St Francis before Bishop Guido of Assisi 

St Francis before Pope Innocent III 

Fragments of other narrative scenes, part of a Passion sequence, cling above the doorways. Painted friezes of foliage, vines and pomegranates line the convento walks, again usually bordered by the Franciscan knotted cord. Miniature narrative scenes punctuate the friezes including a rare depiction of the Mass of St Gregory with the Arma Christi (other, larger examples can be seen at Cholula and Tepeapulco)

The Mass of St Gregory

text and images © 2018 Richard D. Perry
Other posts in our series on the murals of Cuernavaca cathedral: The Church Frescoes; The Open Chapel mural; The Spiritual Lineage; The Crucifixion;