A monochrome fresco depicting the personification of Despair, part of the Vices and Virtues cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel.

This work is a monochrome fresco located in the lower register of the north wall within the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua. It represents the personification of Despair, or Desperatio, as part of a larger cycle depicting the Vices and Virtues. Giotto employs a grisaille technique, using shades of grey and brown to mimic the appearance of stone sculpture, a common practice for the lower decorative bands of the chapel.

The figure is depicted in a state of self-inflicted demise, suspended by a rope. Her posture is rigid, with arms outstretched and head bowed, conveying a sense of finality. The inscription 'DESPERATIO' is clearly visible above the figure, identifying the allegorical subject. The background is a dark, textured panel that contrasts with the lighter, draped garments of the figure, creating a clear silhouette.

Unlike the more naturalistic narrative scenes in the upper registers of the chapel, this figure is stylised and symbolic. The drapery follows the form of the body, yet the overall composition remains static and contained within its architectural frame. This piece demonstrates the artist's ability to translate abstract moral concepts into tangible, visual forms. The work remains a primary example of early fourteenth-century Italian mural painting, reflecting the theological concerns of the period through a structured, didactic visual language.