Best known for his beautiful altar pieces, Blessed Fra Angelico was born Guido di Pietro in 1395 in a small Tuscan hamlet called Rapakania, just outside of Florence. He entered the Dominican friary in Fiesole in 1418 and became a friar in 1425. Upon entering the friary, he was given the name Giuseppe, or John, and so in Rome is known as Blessed John of Fiesole. His Dominican brothers lovingly called him Fra Angelico because of his angelic temperament and artistic ability.
Little is known of this humble Dominican outside of his artistic endeavors. He was pursuant of painting from a very young age and chose to live out his Dominican vows through his art. His depictions of the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ invite the faithful into deep contemplation of the Gospels. It is said that he never painted the crucifixion without weeping profusely. And so it seems his art was not only a gift for his admirers, but also a true expression of his own spiritual life. Blessed Fra Angelico believed that all artists had a responsibility to lead a moral life as the artist’s intentions would inevitably come through in their art.
His artwork eventually caught the attention of Pope Eugenio IV and Pope Nicolas V, who hired him to paint several rooms in the Vatican Palace. Not long after this, he passed in 1455 and is buried in the basilica at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome.
Practical Lessons
- Use Your Talents: Blessed Fra Angelico is an exemplar of what good can come when we trust God and use the talents He gave us for His greater glory.
- Art Matters: Art made to show the Good, the True, and the Beautiful can be an immeasurable blessing. It can convert sinners and bring about a spiritual renaissance for the faithful.
- We Are Creatures of Duality: The state of your soul directly affects your work, and the work you do directly affects your soul. The image of Blessed Fra Angelico weeping before his depiction of the crucifixion is one we ought to remember the next time we endeavor to create something beautiful. We need only ask ourselves one thing, “Will this give glory to God?” If the answer is no, it’s best to abandon it.
Prayer
O God, in Your providence, You inspired blessed Fra Angelico to portray the beauty and sweetness of heaven. By his prayers and the example of his virtues, grant that we may manifest this splendour to our brothers and sisters. Blessed Angelico, pray for us!
Quote
“He who does Christ’s work, must stay with Christ always.” — Blessed Fra Angelico
Other Saints We Remember Today
St. Flavian (449), Bishop, Patriarch, Martyr
