The Blessed Ranieri Rasini Freeing the Poor from a Prison in Florence

Ranieri Rasini was a Franciscan friar of Borgo Sansepolcro who died in 1304, and the town venerated him as blessed. His remains lay beneath the high altar of San Francesco, so when Sassetta painted the friars' new altarpiece, the side facing their choir carried scenes of Ranieri's miracles along its base. In this one he comes to the aid of poor men held in a prison in Florence. He flies in over the wall, his habit streaming behind him, and the prisoners tumble out into the street, one of them still on his knees giving thanks. Sassetta leaves most of the panel to bare grey walls, so the flying friar has the space to himself. In the 19th century the panel belonged to Paul de Saint-Victor, a Paris critic, and his sale in 1882 listed it only as Florentine school. The Société des Amis du Louvre gave it to the museum in 1965.