Fra Angelico
Fra Angelico was a Dominican friar and Italian painter of the Early Renaissance, who worked primarily on religious paintings. The altarpiece we present today was painted for the monastery of Santo Domenico in Fiesole, near Florence, which was the hometown of Fra Angelico. The central panel shows the Archangel Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary under a portico. On the left we see Adam and Eve, who are being expelled from Paradise. Fra Angelico, also known as Blessed Angelico or in Italian, Beato Angelico, was particularly meticulous in the details and qualities of Nature and of the objects and persons depicted. In his style, Fra Angelico merged the late Gothic Italian style with the new language of the Renaissance. An example of this is the architecture’s spatial depth, which, while in keeping with Brunelleschi’s recommendation to occupy the center of a square and unadorned stage, nevertheless shows some of the errors present in Angelico’s early works. In 1982, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Fra Angelico "blessed" in recognition of the holiness of his life, thereby making the title of "Blessed" official.
P.S. Fra Angelico is one of the most important artists of the Florentine Renaissance. And guess what, our latest online course is all about The Art of Renaissance Florence!
P.P.S. Ever wondered how art transitioned from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance? Here's a guide on Proto-Renaissance.