Artwork
Saint Anthony Abbot
Saint Anthony Abbot is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Fra Angelico. It dates from 1440 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
The painting Saint Anthony Abbot is a tempera on panel work depicting a fourth-century Egyptian hermit considered the founder of Christian monasticism.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is shown standing in a serene environment, holding a staff, and wearing simple yet intricately detailed robes. The simplicity of the background contrasts with the detailed folds of the saint's clothing.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on panel, the work showcases the artist's attention to detail, particularly in the rendering of the saint's attire and the subtle nuances of the background.
History & Provenance
Originally part of a large altarpiece commissioned by Cosimo de' Medici for the church of San Marco in Florence, the painting was one of several panels depicting individual saints.
Context
The altarpiece, which featured a central panel of the Virgin and Child with saints, was dismantled by the early 19th century, dispersing its constituent parts.
Artist & collection
Artist
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…
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