Virgin and Child Enthroned with Twelve Angels c. 1420 - 1430

Fra Angelico painted this small panel of the Virgin and Child Enthroned with Twelve Angels with tempera on wood. Notice how the composition invites us into a serene, almost mathematically precise space. The figures are arranged with a clear sense of order and symmetry. The Virgin Mary sits centrally under an architectural canopy. Her deep blue cloak contrasts against the gold background, setting her apart as the focal point. The twelve angels are flanking her. Angelico uses colour to construct the painting’s meaning. The gold ground signifies divinity, while the varying pastel colours of the angels' robes bring a sense of earthly softness. The clear structuring of the space, combined with the symbolic use of gold, reflects the theological concerns of his time. Consider the painting’s function: was it to inspire devotion or to convey specific religious teachings? Appreciate how Angelico uses visual language not merely to represent but to articulate complex ideas about the divine order.