- The “Arena Chapel” gets it name from the Roman amphitheater that is near by and was built for a local Paduan merchant.
- The design of the building so perfectly fits the illusion that its is suggested that Giotto may have been the architect as well. The rectangular barrel-vaulted hall has six narrow windows in its south wall only, which left the entire north wall an unbroken and well-illuminated surface for painting.
- The result of such a large “canvas” on which to paint was a complete pictorial cycle of Christian Redemption, created in 38 framed pictures on 3 levels. The top level contains images of Virgin Mary and her parents, the middle level contains imagery from the life and mission of Christ, and the bottom level depicts Christ’s Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection.
- The pictorial levels are on a neutral base with imitation marble veneer alternates with the virtues and vices painted in grisaill (monochrome grays, often used for modeling in painting) to resemble sculptureThe ceiling is blue, an azure sky symbolic of heaven, the same blue is found in the backgrounds of the panels and acts as a unifying effect. The borders are complex and contrast the simple images they surround.
- The figures are sculpturesque, simple, and weighty, but this mass does not preclude motion and emotion with postures and gestures expressing a broad spectrum of grief
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