Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Churches: Convent of San Domenico (Part 2 of 2)

Our visit to San Domenico continues. 

Fra Angelico:

Fra Angelico lived at San Domenico during 1418-1437 and again in 1449-1452.  He was an early Renaissance painter.

Pictured below is Fra Angelico's Pala di Fiesole by (Fiesole Altarpiece).  The painting is one of Fra Angelico's earliest known works, painted around 1424.  The painting is a Madonna enthroned with three Dominican saints Thomas Aquinas, Dominic and Peter (Martyr) of Verona, plus St. Barnabas.(The background was repainted in 1501 in a more modern fashion by Lorenzo di Credi.)  


Coronation of the Virgin by Fra Angelico (1434-35)  (replica, original in the Louvre)

Annunciation by Fra Angelico (1430-32) (replica, original in the Prado)
On the façade of the church is a plaque that commemorates Fra Angelico's time at the convent. 


 A plaque in a side chapel in the church commemorates Pope John Paul II's beatification of Fra Angelico.   (Beatification is the step before sainthood.)  As a result, Fra Angelico was deemed worthy of being called blessed ("beato") and is now known as Beato Angelico. 

A small bronze sculpture depicting Fra Angelico
Artwork:  The church is filled with religious art by other painters.

Baptism of Jesus by Lorenzo di Credi

Crucifixion by Jacopo del Sellaio

Annunciation by Jacopo da Empoli

Annunciation (glazed terracotta)
Thanks for visiting the Convent of San Domenico with us.

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