Coronation of the Virgin

By Fra Angelico, 1420s
JPG • 3400 × 2447 PX • 4.7 MB
Curatorial Notes

This picture’s original use is uncertain. Its size and shape are appropriate for a predella (the pedestal portion of an altarpiece), which often consists of several small panels. However, the Coronation of the Virgin almost never appears on predellas. The panel’s minute detail and rich finish suggest it may have been an object for private devotion. This is believed to be an early work by Fra Angelico, whose real name was Guido di Pietro, a Dominican monk in Florence. Here, an angel holds the Virgin’s train while she kneels to receive the crown offered by Christ. The scene glimmers with gold; the thrones are draped with starry tapestries, the walls are hung with gold cloth, and Christ himself radiates light.

Artwork Identification

Title Coronation of the Virgin
Title (PT) Coroação da Virgem
Title (ES) Coronación de la Virgen
Artist Fra Angelico
Artist Bio Fra Angelico (Italian, 1400–1455)
Date 1420s
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta