Linaioli Tabernacle 1433

Fra Angelico made this tabernacle in Florence in the 1430's. The Arte dei Linaioli e Rigattieri, the linen merchant's guild, commissioned it for their chapel. The image of the Madonna and Child was a popular one in Florence, but in this version, the guild inserts itself into the story. When open, the tabernacle's panels reveal scenes of Saint Peter, Saint John the Baptist, and other saints particularly relevant to the guild. At the bottom, we see the gathering of the guildsmen. The inclusion of the guild members suggests the important position that organizations like the Arte dei Linaioli held in Florentine society. It speaks to the socio-political and economic structures of the time. Though it is an artwork of great religious meaning, it is interesting to think about its context in the commercial, social, and political life of Renaissance Florence. We can learn so much about this by consulting guild records, historical account books, and other documents from the period.