Fr. Scott A. Haynes
Feast Day, February 18
Blessed Fra Angelico, born Guido di Pietro around 1395 and later known as Blessed Giovanni da Fiesole, remains one of the most revered painters in the history of Western art. A Dominican friar, he was not merely an artist but a man deeply imbued with the spirituality of his order. His work reflects a profound theological understanding and a devotion to truth, beauty, and goodness, principles he derived from St. Thomas Aquinas. His artistic production was not simply an exercise in aesthetic refinement but a mode of preaching, a way of bringing the divine mysteries to life through form and color.
The Spirituality of Fra Angelico’s Art
Fra Angelico's approach to painting was one of deep piety, and his works are often considered visual prayers. Giorgio Vasari, in his Lives of the Artists, praised him, writing:
"It is impossible to bestow too much praise on this holy father, who was so humble and modest in all that he did and said, and whose pictures were painted with such facility and piety."
Fra Angelico’s spirituality is best understood in the context of his Dominican vocation. The Order of Preachers, founded by St. Dominic, was dedicated to the transmission of divine truth through both preaching and contemplation. Fra Angelico’s art was an extension of this mission, visual sermons that sought to draw the viewer into a contemplation of divine mysteries. Each of his paintings adheres to the principles of theological clarity and narrative harmony, creating a meditative experience for the observer.
His famous frescoes in the Convent of San Marco in Florence exemplify this approach. Each cell of the friars was adorned with a sacred image, meant to serve as a focal point for meditation and prayer. The simplicity of his compositions, the purity of his colors, and the tranquility of his figures reflect a deep inner peace and an understanding of divine order.
Fra Angelico does not paint, he prays. His art is a visual sermon. It teaches the faith and is a visual exegesis of the mysteries of our faith. Thus, Fra Angelico was not merely an artist; he was a theologian of color and light, translating the divine into a language that could be understood by all.
The Influence of St. Thomas Aquinas on Fra Angelico
As a faithful Dominican, Fra Angelico was profoundly influenced by St. Thomas Aquinas. He studied the Summa Theologiae, where he found the theological basis for his artistic vision. St. Thomas identified three essential qualities of beauty: integrity, proportion, and clarity. Fra Angelico embraced these principles wholeheartedly:
1. Integrity (wholeness and perfection): Every figure in his paintings possesses an internal coherence and wholeness. There is a completeness to his works that conveys a sense of divine perfection.
2. Proportion and harmony: His compositions maintain a delicate balance, with figures arranged in a manner that conveys both movement and repose, echoing the divine order found in creation.
3. Clarity (splendor and radiance): His use of color—bright, luminous, and pure—enhances the spiritual quality of his paintings, making them radiant with divine light.
Just as St. Thomas Aquinas was known as the "Angelic Doctor" for his sublime theology, Fra Angelico was called the "Angelic Painter" because his work embodied these theological insights. The Dominican biographer Fra Domenico da Corella aptly remarked:
"St. Thomas Aquinas was the model for theology, and Fra Angelico was the model for painting. Both were given the name Angelico."
Fra Angelico’s famous Annunciation paintings provide an excellent example of how he put these Thomistic principles into practice. The angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary are rendered with an ethereal beauty, their forms imbued with grace and light. The architectural setting adheres to precise mathematical proportions, reinforcing the sense of divine harmony. The golden backgrounds, a remnant of Byzantine tradition, signify the heavenly realm, infusing the entire scene with a transcendent glow.
The Western Schism and Its Impact on Fra Angelico
Fra Angelico lived during a tumultuous period in Church history, marked by the Western Schism (1378–1417), when rival claimants to the papacy divided Christendom. The resulting chaos deeply affected the Dominican Order, which had houses aligned with different papal factions.
As a faithful son of the Church, Fra Angelico sought to use his talents to heal these divisions. His art became a tool for promoting unity and orthodoxy, reaffirming the legitimacy of the true successors of St. Peter. He was called to Rome by Pope Eugenius IV and later by Pope Nicholas V, who commissioned him to decorate the private chapel of the Vatican. These commissions signified papal recognition not only of his artistic genius but also of his role in fostering spiritual unity.
During his time in Rome, he painted the frescoes of the Niccoline Chapel, one of his most important works. The serene beauty and theological depth of these frescoes, which depict the lives of St. Stephen and St. Lawrence, reflect the renewed spiritual vigor of the Church in the aftermath of the Schism. Pope Nicholas V, an admirer of Fra Angelico, remarked:
"This man serves the truth with his brush as a preacher does with his words."
Thus, Fra Angelico's art was not only an expression of personal devotion but also a means of restoring faith in the Church during a time of crisis.
The Legacy of the Angelic Painter
Fra Angelico’s artistic legacy extends beyond the Renaissance, continuing to inspire both artists and theologians. He is the patron of Catholic artists, a fitting honor for a man whose paintings have guided countless souls toward contemplation of the divine.
The 19th-century art historian John Ruskin paid tribute to him, writing:
"Angelico’s works are not merely art; they are acts of worship, filled with the light of Heaven."
Even secular art critics recognize the unique spiritual depth of his work. His ability to convey divine mysteries with simplicity and elegance remains unparalleled in Western art.
In Fra Angelico, we see the perfect union of faith and art, theology and beauty. As St. Thomas Aquinas provided the intellectual foundation for Catholic doctrine, Fra Angelico provided a visual catechism, a luminous vision of the divine. The harmony of his compositions, the radiance of his colors, and the serenity of his figures all point to the reality of Heaven. Through his paintings, he invites the viewer to step beyond the material world and enter into the realm of the eternal.
Conclusion
Fra Angelico’s art is not merely a historical artifact; it is a living testament to the power of faith expressed through beauty. His adherence to Thomistic principles gave his work a theological depth that continues to resonate today. He was a true preacher with a brush, using his talent to illuminate the mysteries of salvation.
His life and work remind us that beauty is not an end in itself but a path to the divine. As St. Thomas taught, beauty reflects the order, proportion, and radiance of God’s creation. Fra Angelico took this teaching to heart, crafting images that continue to draw souls toward truth and holiness. His legacy endures, a beacon of divine light in the history of Christian art.