The Saints: Fra Angelico

C. 1400-1455

Feast – Feb. 18

Fra Giovanni da Fiesole, known as Blessed Fra Angelico, was an early Renaissance painter. After joining the Dominicans in 1420, he began illustrating manuscripts and choir books, beginning each new work with a prayer. His religious altarpieces, paintings and frescoes exploited color for spatial and emotional effect. Fra Angelico, meaning “angelic brother,” decorated an entire Florentine monastery and two Roman chapels. He declined appointment as archbishop of Florence and was formally beatified in 1982.