Artist of the Day: Fra Angelico (1395-1455)

Fra Angelico was an Italian Renaissance painter and a Domincan Friar.  He was called Il Beato, or "the blessed one", because of his skill at representing religious (Christian) subjects.  Fra Angelico painted many frescos, and his big career move was when he moved to the Friary of San Marco in Florence, and was a recipient of patronage by one of those filthy rich d'Medici guys.  Very influential on many who immediately followed, including ceiling painter Michelangelo.

I found this interesting from Wikipedia regarding patrons:  "Frequently, it would seem, the wealthier the client, the more conservative the painting. There was a very good reason for this. The paintings that were commissioned made a statement about the patron. Thus the more gold leaf it displayed, the more it spoke to the patron's glory. The other valuable commodities in the paint-box were lapis lazuli and vermilion. Paint made from these colours did not lend itself to a tonal treatment. The azure blue made of powdered lapis lazuli went on flat, the depth and brilliance of colour being, like the gold leaf, a sign of the patron's ability to provide well. For these reasons, altarpieces are often much more conservatively painted than frescoes, which were often of almost life-sized figures and relied upon a stage-set quality rather than lavish display in order to achieve effect."

Top painting:
The Annuciation
Fresco
1440's
Museo di San Marco, Florence

Botton painting:
Transfiguration of Christ
Fresco
1441
Museo di San Marco, Florence

Wiki:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fra_Angelico