Who painted Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged?

Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged was painted by Fra Angelico in 1438-01-01.

Where can I see Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged?

Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged?

Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged is associated with High Renaissance.

Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged by Fra Angelico (1438)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts two sequential episodes from the hagiography of Saints Cosmas and Damian, traditional brothers who were renowned physicians providing free medical care. In the first scene, the Roman prefect Lysias, tormented by devils, cruelly condemns the saints and their followers, Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius, who kneel before his throne after refusing to renounce their Christian faith. The second episode, located in the upper right, shows the saints being thrown into the sea, only to be rescued by an angel who safely returns them and their disciples to shore.

The panel's iconography emphasizes the saints' divine protection and steadfast faith amidst persecution, serving as part of a larger narrative predella dedicated to their martyrdom.

Technique & Style

Spatial depth is achieved through overlapping narrative episodes placed on distinct planes, with a flat architectural backdrop that frames the figures.

The panel is executed in tempera on a poplar wood support, measuring approximately 38 × 46 cm. The surface bears a thin, even application of pigment that allows subtle glazing, creating a luminous chiaroscuro that unifies the composition. Spatial depth is achieved through overlapping narrative episodes placed on distinct planes, with a flat architectural backdrop that frames the figures. Vivid color contrasts highlight the saints’ garments and the devilish tormentors, while the architectural motifs echo earlier predella works.

The work remains largely intact, though the Washington fragment shows greater surface loss; overall condition is rated as good to very good.

History & Provenance

The panel was commissioned as part of the predella for the San Marco Altarpiece, installed on the high altar of the Dominican church of San Marco, Florence, following its reacquisition by Cosimo de’ Medici in 1438 for 500 ducats and rededication to Saints Cosmas and Damian.

Painted by Fra Angelico, the work is dated to circa 1438–1440, with the predella panels likely completed by 1443. Originally the third panel from the left on the front of the predella, it depicts two episodes from the saints’ martyrdom: their condemnation before Lisias and their miraculous survival after being cast into the sea, rescued by an angel.

After the suppression of religious houses between the late 18th and 19th centuries, the altarpiece was dismantled and dispersed; this panel entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, Munich, where it remains.

The painting Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Originally created as the third panel of the predella for the San Marco Altarpiece, it was commissioned for the high altar of the San Marco church in Florence around 1438. Following the suppression of religious orders in the 18th and 19th centuries, the altarpiece was dismantled and dispersed among various international museums.

While the main altarpiece suffered a disastrous restoration, this specific predella panel survived in excellent condition. It currently resides in Munich alongside other fragments of the series, including the Pietà and Crocifissione, having been separated from its original context where it depicted the saints' rescue from drowning.

Overview

Fra Angelico, a Dominican friar, completed Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Salvaged in 1438. This painting on wood exemplifies his dedication to sacred themes during the early Florentine Renaissance. The panel illustrates a scene featuring the titular saints, an angel, a believer, and a devil. It is currently housed in the Alte Pinakothek, representing a key work from his career.

Context

Fra Angelico, born Guido di Pietro and known as Fra Giovanni da Fiesole, was a Dominican friar active during the early Florentine Renaissance. His artistic output was almost exclusively devoted to sacred subjects, aligning with his monastic vows. This focus is evident in works like the frescoes he created for the San Marco convent in Florence, which similarly explored devotional themes.

Saints Cosmas and Damian and their Brothers Surviving the Stake, Fra Angelico

Artist & collection

Artist

Fra Angelico

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…