Artwork
Saint Anthony Abbot
Saint Anthony Abbot is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Fra Angelico. It dates from 1440 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 129756
- Credit line
- Bequest of Elizabeth Iglehart Blair
About this work
Overview
The painting Saint Anthony Abbot is a tempera on panel work depicting a fourth-century Egyptian hermit considered the founder of Christian monasticism.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is shown standing in a serene environment, holding a staff, and wearing simple yet intricately detailed robes. The simplicity of the background contrasts with the detailed folds of the saint's clothing.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on panel, the work showcases the artist's attention to detail, particularly in the rendering of the saint's attire and the subtle nuances of the background.
History & Provenance
Originally part of a large altarpiece commissioned by Cosimo de' Medici for the church of San Marco in Florence, the painting was one of several panels depicting individual saints.
Context
The altarpiece, which featured a central panel of the Virgin and Child with saints, was dismantled by the early 19th century, dispersing its constituent parts.
Artist & collection
Artist
Fra Giovanni da Fiesole (born Guido di Pietro; c. 1395 – 18 February 1455), known posthumously as Fra Angelico ( FRAH an-JEL-ik-oh, Italian: ), was an Italian Dominican friar and painter active during the early…
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