Today is the feast day of Blessed John of Fiesole who received the nickname Fra Angelico (or "Brother Angel) from his peers.
One of his first big projects was in Florence decorating the Dominican
Monastery of San Marco. When he was called to Rome in 1445, he left the completion of the works to his assistants. But, before leaving, he completed one of his most beautiful works in a nondescript
upstairs cell that may have been his own. It's an
Annunciation painted high on the wall against the vaulted ceiling. Not a lavish rendition of the holy event it strikes us as deeply religious in
its simplicity instead. Like the man who painted it, the scene can best be
described as simply "holy." The angel Gabriel is positioned near the center of
the arched composition, enlightening Mary of God's favor while off to the left,
in one of several one-point perspective niches, stands Saint Dominic. The effect
is that of a vision within a vision as Saint Dominic's prayers conjures up the
vision of the angel and Mary and the whole painted scene is that of a vision
seen by the occupant of the cell.
This image influenced John Lajba as he sculpted the angels which are on the inside of the sanctuary-side doors of our tabernacle. Their arms are, likewise, in a position of humility.
The image of the angel on the inside of the chapel-side door to our tabernacle is by Fra Angelico.
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