Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which artists did Pope Nicholas V employ to beautify Rome?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Nicholas V
Saint Francis of Assisi Appearing Before Pope Nicholas V, with Donors, oil on canvas by Antonio MontĆŗfar, 1628; in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 107.95 Ć 87.63 cm.
Pope Nicholas V was a significant patron of the arts who sought to establish Rome as the center of Christianity through an ambitious architectural and cultural program. To beautify his constructions and restore Roman architectural treasures, he employed several notable figures:
- Fra Angelico: The renowned Florentine painter was commissioned by the pope to decorate the Chapel of Nicholas V with scenes from the lives of St. Stephen and St. Lawrence.123
- Leon Battista Alberti and Bernardo Rossellino: These architects were utilized by Nicholas V for his extensive building projects, which included the reconstruction of the Vatican palace and plans for a new St. Peterās Basilica.13
In addition to these specific artists and architects, Nicholas V fostered a broader artistic environment in Rome by acting as a patron to numerous scholars and commissioning various craftsmen, including goldsmiths, silversmiths, and tapestry makers from France, Belgium, and Germany.1