Fra Angelico was one of the principal painters of the Early Renaissance in Florence.
He is first recorded as a painter in 1417, and at about the same time became a novice at the Friary of San Domenico at Fiesole near Florence, where he mainly lived, eventually becoming Prior. 'Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven' is the predella from an altarpiece made for the Friary.
By about 1430 Fra Angelico had been influenced by the work of early pioneers of the Renaissance in Florence, particularly the sculpture of Ghiberti. He used new realism and impression of volume to define figures, as well as linear perspective to define space in his own more contemplative art.
Fra Angelico is most famous for the frecoes he painted after 1436 in the Dominican friary of San Marco in Florence, whose rebuilding was supported by Cosimo de Medici.
Fra Angelico
active 1417; died 1455
Paintings by Fra Angelico
(Showing 6 of 8 works)
This painting on panel, which has been attributed to the workshop of Fra Angelico, was evidently the pinnacle of an altarpiece.It has been suggested that it was above the central panel of Fra Angelico’s polyptych painted for the church of San Domenico in Fiesole, Italy. The predella is in the Nat...
Not on display
Christ, hovering on wispy clouds, is surrounded by angels who sing, dance and play musical instruments. He is shown triumphant over death: his red and white flag was associated with his resurrection; the wound in his right hand, caused when he was crucified, is a reminder of his physical sufferin...
We can piece together who this saint is: his mitre (hat) and crosier (crook) identify him as a bishop, and a faint inscription in white paint to his right reads ‘OL VS’. The inscription on the left probably read ‘ROM’, identifying him when both sides were put together as Romulus.This seems likely...
Not on display
The Dominican Blessed, both friars and nuns, dressed in the distinctive black and white habits of the Dominican Order, are neatly lined up in rows. The Blessed were holy figures belonging to the Order (founded by Saint Dominic in 1215) who were venerated locally after death. Some, like Vincent Fe...
This panel shows the Dominican Blessed, both tertiaries (those who lived in general society rather than a convent, but were allied to the Dominican Order) and friars. They're dressed in their distinctive black and white habits, neatly lined up in rows.The Blessed were holy figures belonging to th...
This panel comes from the predella (the lowest part) of an altarpiece made for the church of San Domenico, Fiesole, near Florence. Its figures look towards the central panel, which shows Christ resurrected from the dead.Lined up in neat rows are – from top to bottom – 21 biblical figures regarded...
This panel comes from the predella (the lowest part) of an altarpiece made for the church of San Domenico, Fiesole, near Florence. Its saints face right toward the central panel, which shows Christ in glory after his resurrection from the dead.The Virgin kneels at the head of the top row of saint...
Workshop of Fra Angelico
This little scene was once hidden on the inside of a cupboard door – damage on the left hand border shows that there was once a door hinge there. Its reverse – the front of the door – is decorated with abstract patterns.The story tells how the Blessed Reginald, once the dean to the Bishop of Orle...
Not on display
You've viewed 6 of 8 paintings