Fra Angelico
Born – Vicchio di Mugelio, Italy c.1387-1400
Died – Rome, Italy 1455
Fra Angelico was a Dominican friar in the monastery at Fiesole. The convent of San Marco was taken over by his Order in 1436, and he was commissioned to decorate the Friar’s cells with frescos painted directly on to wet plaster walls. These were intended to stimulate prayer and meditation rather than to be a factual record of the Biblical story. He wanted to represent the sacredness of Christ in all its glory and simplicity; although he understood the principles of perspective, as seen here in the rendition of the tomb door, these were often sacrificed for a simple style. In the nineteenth century Angelico’s paintings captured the imagination of the Pre-Raphaelites, who saw in them the charm of a pure faith. In this fresco, Christ appears to Mary Magdalene. She has been weeping after discovering that his tomb is empty. A figure appears. At first she mistakes him for a gardener as his is carrying a hoe. Suddenly realizing who it is, she goes to embrace him. But he moves away, telling her not to touch him – literally “Noli Me Tangere”.
Masterpieces:
- Linaiuoli Madonna
- Christ Glorified in the Court Heaven
Text: The A-Z of Art, Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson.
Books About fra angelico
Fra Angelico (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series)
Laurence Kanter
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Fra Angelico
Diane Cole Ahl
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Fra Angelico
John T. Spike
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