Churches: Santa Maria del Carmine (Part 2 of 3)

The treasure of Santa Maria del Carmine is the Brancacci chapel, a frescoed Renaissance masterpiece.

Three artists created the frescoes in the chapel funded by the Brancacci family.  They are Masaccio ("Clumsy Tom"), Masolino ("Little Tom") and Filippino Lippi.  The two Tom's painted side by side in the 1420's.  Lippi finished the chapel in the 1480's.  While each artist had a unique style, they succeeded in harmonizing their paintings in the chapel.

We especially liked Lippi's paintings. While they complemented the earlier frescoes, they seemed more life-like, more human than the other paintings.

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St. Peter Being Freed from Prison by Filippino Lippi

The Tribute Money by Masaccio (top); The Raising of the Son of Theophilus and St. Peter Enthroned by Masaccio and Filippino Lippi (bottom)

St. Peter Healing the Sick with his Shadow by Masaccio

The Crucifixion of St. Peter by Filippino Lippi

Madonna del Popolo over the chapel altar (13th century).  The 1460 addition to the chapel of the Madonna painting followed the exile from Florence of the Brancacci family.  As a result, the Brancacci chapel was renamed and rededicated to the Madonna del Popolo.

Thanks for discovering with us the treasure of Santa Maria del Carmine.