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How did Lorenzo Monaco influence Fra Angelico’s early style?
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Fra Angelico
Madonna of Humility, tempera on panel by Fra Angelico, c. 1440; in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
According to the biographer Giorgio Vasari, Fra Angelico was trained by Lorenzo Monaco, a prominent painter and miniaturist of the Gothic tradition.1
Lorenzo Monaco’s influence on Fra Angelico’s early style is primarily reflected in the following characteristics:
- Delicacy and Precision: Angelico adopted a clear, painstaking delicacy of execution that mirrored the meticulous approach of his teacher.1
- Vibrant Luminosity: The vibrant luminosity found in Angelico’s work is attributed to Monaco’s influence, serving to spiritualize the figures within his paintings.1
These stylistic qualities are particularly evident in Fra Angelico’s early works, such as the Madonna of the Star and The Annunciation. Additionally, the connection between the two artists is highlighted by the fact that Fra Angelico completed the Deposition for the church of Santa Trinità, a project that Lorenzo Monaco had begun before his death in 1425.1