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🕊️by Fra Angelico
Personal Reflection
I feel contemplative and peaceful when I look at this. It makes me think of how the monks likely felt the same when they passed by this painting. You can tell how Fra Angelico got his name, his art is soft and gentle and angelic.
About This Artwork
ca 1440–1445, fresco. Being a Dominican Order monk, Fra Angelico was a pretty conservative painter, emphasizing the spiritual over the physical. He used strong one point perspective, a noticeable difference to the gold leaf background that was so common to show divinity. The scene is situated on a loggia, a corridor on the outside of a building with openings, including pillars and Corinthian capitals. Could also be called a portico, since the painting actually looks just like San Marco portico cloister. In the background, there's a fenced garden, a common symbol of Mary's purity and virginity. We also see a monk cell in the background, which is cool because IRL this painting was outside monk cells at the top of the stairs, meant to put them in a relaxed, quiet state of mind. Using low contrast, simple, soft colors causes them to blend a little but further adds to the gentleness of the image, allowing the viewer to know what to expect. Mary has her arms crossed in reverence or acceptance, but oddly enough there's no book in sight. Her and the angel Gabriel are on equal planes, though Gabriel has no shadow. Both of them have non-descript feature, so it's easier for worshippers to imagine the scene on their own. It's simple, direct, and devotional, and repetitive. The same colors, same arches and posts, but still beautiful in its own right.
- Artist
- Fra Angelico
- Location
- San Marco Convent, Florence
- Date experienced
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