San Pietro Martire Triptych
Encyclopedia
The St. Peter of Verona Triptych (Italian: Trittico di San Pietro Martire) is a painting by the Italian early Renaissance master Fra Angelico
, executed around 1428-1429. It is housed in the National Museum of San Marco, Florence
, central Italy
.
, where the painter was a monk.
According to some art historians, it could be contemporary of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Masaccio
and Masolino da Panicale
(1424-1425), although it lacks the use of compartments which at the time were widespread.
(Madonna Enthroned with Child) and, at the sides, are the Saints Dominic, John the Baptist, Peter of Verona and Thomas of Aquino. In the cusps are lobed tondoes with the Annunciation Angel, the Annunciation and, in the center, Blessing Christ. Between the cusps are scenes of the life of St. Peter of Verona (Predication and Martyrdom).
The Madonna sits on a brocaded seat, with the Child standing on her knees. She is holding an ampulla
, a reference to Mary Magdalene
's ampulla and thus to Jesus' passion. The Child wears a tunic with rich golden decoration. His hand holds a globe, a symbol of his power, while the other hands is raised in a blessing gesture. The relative lack of decoration, compared to Angelico's earlier Fiesole Altarpiece
(1424-1425), which was still heavily based on Gentile da Fabriano
's style, show the growing influence of Masaccio and a more realistic approach.
Fra Angelico
Fra Angelico , born Guido di Pietro, was an Early Italian Renaissance painter described by Vasari in his Lives of the Artists as having "a rare and perfect talent"...
, executed around 1428-1429. It is housed in the National Museum of San Marco, Florence
San Marco, Florence
San Marco is the name of a religious complex in Florence, Italy. It comprises a church and a convent. The convent, which is now a museum, has three claims to fame: during the 15th century it was home to two famous Dominicans, the painter Fra Angelico and the preacher, Girolamo Savonarola...
, central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
History
The work is Fra Angelico's first documented work. It comes from the convent of San Pietro Martire and a document from 30 March 1429 notes a sum of 20 florins owed to the convent of San Domenico, FiesoleConvent of San Domenico, Fiesole
The Convent of San Domenico is a Dominican convent in Fiesole, Italy, situated between the hill of Fiesole and the suburbs of Florence. It was founded in 1406 and completed in 1435 on the initiative of Giovanni Dominici and the bishop of Fiesole, Jacopo Altoviti, both of them monks at the Basilica...
, where the painter was a monk.
According to some art historians, it could be contemporary of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Masaccio
Masaccio
Masaccio , born Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, was the first great painter of the Quattrocento period of the Italian Renaissance. According to Vasari, Masaccio was the best painter of his generation because of his skill at recreating lifelike figures and movements as well as a convincing sense...
and Masolino da Panicale
Masolino da Panicale
Masolino da Panicale was an Italian painter. His best known works are probably his collaborations with Masaccio: Madonna with Child and St. Anne and the frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel .-Biography:Masolino was born in Panicale...
(1424-1425), although it lacks the use of compartments which at the time were widespread.
Description
In the center of the work is a MaestàMaestà
Maestà, the Italian word for "majesty", designates an iconic formula of the enthroned Madonna with the child Jesus, whether or not accompanied with angels and saints...
(Madonna Enthroned with Child) and, at the sides, are the Saints Dominic, John the Baptist, Peter of Verona and Thomas of Aquino. In the cusps are lobed tondoes with the Annunciation Angel, the Annunciation and, in the center, Blessing Christ. Between the cusps are scenes of the life of St. Peter of Verona (Predication and Martyrdom).
The Madonna sits on a brocaded seat, with the Child standing on her knees. She is holding an ampulla
Ampulla
An ampulla was, in Ancient Rome, a "small nearly globular flask or bottle, with two handles" . The word is used of these in archaeology, and of later flasks, often handle-less and much flatter, for holy water or holy oil in the Middle Ages....
, a reference to Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
's ampulla and thus to Jesus' passion. The Child wears a tunic with rich golden decoration. His hand holds a globe, a symbol of his power, while the other hands is raised in a blessing gesture. The relative lack of decoration, compared to Angelico's earlier Fiesole Altarpiece
Fiesole Altarpiece
The Fiesole Altarpiece is a painting by the Italian early Renaissance master Fra Angelico, executed around 1424-1425. It is housed in the Convent of San Domenico, Fiesole, central Italy. The background was repainted by Lorenzo di Credi in 1501.-History:...
(1424-1425), which was still heavily based on Gentile da Fabriano
Gentile da Fabriano
Gentile da Fabriano was an Italian painter known for his participation in the International Gothic style. He worked in various places in central Italy, mostly in Tuscany. His best known works are his Adoration of the Magi and the Flight into Egypt.-Biography:Gentile was born in or near Fabriano,...
's style, show the growing influence of Masaccio and a more realistic approach.