Saint Nicholas of Bari and Archangel Michael

1425/30, Fra Angelico

  • © Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck / Sammlung Rau für UNICEF, Foto: Horst Bernhard
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    Fra Angelico, Saint Nicholas of Bari and Archangel Michael, 1425/30
    © Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck / Rau Collection for UNICEF, photo: Horst Bernhard
  • © Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck / Sammlung Rau für UNICEF, Foto: Horst Bernhard
    2 / 2
    Fra Angelico, Saint Nicholas of Bari and Archangel Michael, 1425/30
    © Arp Museum Bahnhof Rolandseck / Rau Collection for UNICEF, photo: Horst Bernhard

About the Works

Tempera on wood

35.5 x 14 cm each

The archangel Michael and Saint Nicholas of Bari are enthroned at the centre of a bright gold sky. The book illustrator and Dominican monk Fra Giovanni's skill in capturing hyper-real space was second to none, giving rise to his sobriquet "the Angelic", or Angelico. Both panels are side panels of the high altar of the Dominican church of Fiesole. This high altar intended to represent Heavenly Jerusalem, God's own city, peopled by the Holy Family, a large host of angels and a multitude of saints.

Fra Angelico was born in Vicchio near Fiesole between 1386 and 1400, he died 1455 in Rome.

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