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Fra Angelico

James C. Hamilton
Updated by Lou Giorgetti

Fra Angelico: 5th Centenary of Death
Stamp Design from the fresco
Pope Sixtus II Conferring Diaconate on St. Lawrence
Scott 195-196 (1955)
The Feast of Blessed Fra Angelico is celebrated on February 18, marking the anniversary of his death in 1455.

Fra Giovanni da Fiesole ("Friar John of Fiesole") was born Guido di Pietro around the year 1395 in Vicchio, near Florence. He would come to be known as Fra Angelico ("Angelic Brother") following his death, and Beato Angelico ("Blessed Angelic One") following his beatification in 1982. A Dominican friar and painter active during the early Florentine Renaissance, he was perhaps the best known and most prolific fresco artist of the Renaissance. He entered the Dominican Order in 1407, initially working on illuminated manuscripts, and was ordained a priest in 1418. His works may be seen at the Dominican friary of San Marco, in Florence, which is well-worth a visit by pilgrims to Italy. In addition to his Annunciation and Crucifixion, he painted a series of frescoes in the monks’ cells which include many of Fra Angelico's finest and most reproduced works. Although he primarily worked in Florence, he also contributed paintings to other chapels in Italy, including Fiesole, Orvieto, and the Vatican. He died in Rome in 1455 and is buried in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

Posthumous portrait of Fra Angelico by Luca Signorelli (circa 1501)
Detail from "Deeds of the Antichrist", fresco at the Orvieto Cathedral

Historian David Farmer, summarizes Fra Angelico’s work as follows:

"His many surviving paintings radiate spiritual serenity and a religious dedication achieved by few others. They reveal also a marvelous command of colour, light, and perspective. He is generally reckoned one of the greatest painters of the Quattrocento."

In 1982, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him "Blessed", in recognition of the holiness of his life. Two years later, in 1984, he was named a patron saint of artists. Pope John Paul II stated:

"Angelico was reported to say 'He who does Christ's work must stay with Christ always'. This motto earned him the epithet "Blessed Angelico", because of the perfect integrity of his life and the almost divine beauty of the images he painted."

The works of Fra Angelico appear on many stamps issued by Vatican City. Here is a sampling of issues featuring the great artist's masterpieces: