Fra Angelico, the angelic brother, was born in 1395 and lived a short life of 60 years. Italians call him “Il beato,” the blessed one and this title is fitting because his work is brimming with expressions of religious piety and humility before God, denoting a deep spiritual insight which is seen by many artists as a kind of mysticism in paint. On a purely technical and visual level, his altarpieces and frescoes depicting the lives of the saints stand alone among late medieval art. From his humble beginnings, Fra Angelico went to live among the rich worldly patrons of Florence then to complete his life in the Church’s spiritual center at the Vatican, contributing to a rich history of catholic pictures.
He was born Guido di Pietro at Rupecanina, Tuscany. Between 1408 and 1418, he work at the Dominican House of Cortona painting frescoes which do not survive. He then moved to the Convent of Fiesole where he worked until 1336, a restored altarpiece of his remaining from that period. In 1336 he moved to the Domincan house of San Marco in Florence which had just been completed where he was urged by Cosimo de Medici to paint the house. The altarpiece at San Marco in Florence is one of his most famous pieces, dating from 1439. From 1445 until his death in 1455, Fra Angelico’s work centered in Rome, where he decorated the chapel of Pope Nicolas. He is entomed in the famous Dominican Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, not far from the body of Saint Catherine of Siena (Saint Catherine’s head is kept in Siena by itself). Fra Angelico was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1982 and then in 1884 declared a patron of catholic artists.
Both in style and history, there is a direct link from the works of Fra Angelico to Domenico Ghirlandaio, the latter famous in his own right as well as for his role as the master who took Michelangelo as an apprentice. The use of light color and simple striking forms characterizes these artists. These artists have given the world some its greatest works, showing deep religious sentiment. Unlike many artists throughout history, Fra Angelico’s life emblemizes his work; he is an artist who believed in and lived the ideals he painted. Thus, his work is imbued with an honesty, a true to life form, and an insight that stand alone.
The following is a source to verify dates and locations mentioned in the article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_Catholic_Church_artists
The following is a related work by Michael Copenhagen: http://www.sacredimagetees.com/catholic-pictures.php
