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Tabernacle of the Linaioli, by Fra Angelico, tempera, 1433

Tabernacle of the Linaioli

Fra Angelico

1433

tempera

stone

From the collection of Uffizi Gallery

Dominant colour

Overview

Tabernacle of the Linaioli is a 1433 tempera by Fra Angelico, a Early Renaissance work, held at Uffizi Gallery.

Who painted this?
Fra Angelico
When & what style?
1433 · Early Renaissance
Where can I see it?
Uffizi Gallery

The story of this work

Overview

The Tabernacle of the Linaioli (Italian: Tabernacolo dei Linaioli, literally "Tabernacle of the Linen manufacturers") is a marble aedicula designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti, with paintings by Fra Angelico, dating to 1432–1433. It is housed in the National Museum of San Marco, Florence, Italy.

Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

History

The tabernacle was commissioned for the exterior of the seat of the Linaioli (the guild of linen workers in Florence), in the former Old Market, in the October 1432. The marble parts were executed by Simone di Nanni da Fiesole, under design by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The contract for the internal paintings was signed by Angelico on 2 July 1433, for a total of 190 golden florins. The predella is generally dated to 1433–1435. The work was a large one, comparable only to Cimabue's Santa Trinita Maestà or Duccio di Buoninsegna's Rucellai Madonna. It has been speculated that the marble frame was sized…

Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Description

The tabernacle is composed of a rectangular marble frame, with a triangular top with a sculpted almond depicting the "Blessing Christ and Cherubim". In the center, within an arched opening, are Fra Angelico's panel of the Maestà with twelve musician angels. At the front are two shutter panels with further paintings of saints. These are, internally, John the Baptist (left) and John the Evangelist (right); and externally Mark the Evangelist (left) and Saint Peter (right). The panels are completed by a predella, placed below, with three scenes of St. Mark records the sermons of St. Peter,…

Read the full account in the museum source.

Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

About the artist

Portrait of Fra Angelico
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…

See the richer artist page

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