Legend of the True Cross (Piero della Francesca, Arezzo)

The cycle follows the legendary history of the wood used for Christ's cross, from events connected with Adam to its recovery and exaltation. Its narrative derives largely from the Golden Legend, a widely read medieval collection of saints' stories.

According to the legend, she recognizes that the timber used as a bridge will someday form the cross on which Christ dies. Piero joins her act of reverence with her later meeting with King Solomon in one carefully balanced composition.

One major scene shows Constantine defeating Maxentius after receiving a vision connected with the cross. Another depicts the victory of Heraclius over Chosroes, who had taken the relic and set himself up as an object of worship.

They decorate the main chapel of the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo, commonly called the Bacci Chapel. Piero worked on the cycle in the mid-15th century after the original commission had been associated with Bicci di Lorenzo.