Blessed Fra Angelico

(c. 1395-1455)

Patron of Catholic Artists

"He who does Christ's work must stay with Christ always.”

- Fra Angelico

Madonna and Child with Saints, tempera on panel painting by Guido di Pietro, known as Fra Angelico, c. 1411-13, San Diego Museum of Art

• The early work of Fra Angelico is a blend of the elegantly decorative Gothic style, and the solid, sculptural style of the Renaissance.

• What evidence do you see of both styles in this painting?

• Why do you think Fra Angelico painted Mary larger that the other figures in the painting?

• Why do you think he used so much gold in this painting?

San Domenico Altarpiece, 1424-1430, Tempera, 212 x 237 cm.

Deposition from the Cross, 1434-1440, Tempera, 176 x 185 cm.

Annunciation, 1433-34, Tempera on wood, 150 x 180 cm, Museo Diocesano, Cortona

Annunciation, 1440-1442, Fresco, 176 x 148 cm., Convento di San Marco, Florence

• What do you think is happening in this picture?

• What do you see that makes you think that?

• What clues does the artist give us as to the identity of these people?

Annunciation, 1442-1443, 230 x 321 cm., Fresco, Convento di San Marco, Florence

San Marco Altarpiece,

Madonna and Saints, 1438-

1443, Tempera on wood, 220 cm

x 227 cm, San marco Museum,

Florence, Italy

San Marco Altarpiece, Madonna and Saints, detail, 1438-1443, Tempera on wood, 220 cm x 227 cm, San marco Museum, Florence, Italy

• The figures in this painting seem to be in intimate conversations.

• Can you imagine what they are saying to each other?

The Adoration of the Magi,

c. 1445Panel, diameter

137,4 cmNational Gallery of

Art, Washington

The Adoration of the Magi, detail, c. 1445, Panel, diameter 137,4 cm, National Gallery of Art,

Washington

• Perched on the roof of the stable, the peacock was a symbol of Resurrection.

• Jesus raises his right hand to bless the Magi. In his left hand he holds a pomegranate — its numerous seeds represent the many people brought together by the Church.

• Artists used precious gold leaf to indicate the most significant figures in a story.

• What do you think the man in red could be looking at in the sky?

St. Stephen Distributing Alms, 1447-1449, Fresco, Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

• What do you think is happening in this picture?

• How do you think the people around St. Stephen feel about what he is doing?

• What do you see that makes you think that?

Christ on the Cross, with the Virgin and Saints, ca. 1453–54Tempera on panel, 13 3/8 x 19 3/4 in. (33.9 x 50.1 cm)