Transfiguration 1442

Fra Angelico painted this fresco of The Transfiguration in the first half of the 15th century, as part of his commission to decorate the Florentine monastery of San Marco. The painting depicts the moment in the Gospels when Christ’s divinity is revealed to his disciples. We see Christ floating above the three apostles Peter, John, and James, who are shielding their eyes from the divine light. Flanking Jesus are Moses and Elijah, and the Virgin Mary and Saint Dominic. It’s worth remembering that Fra Angelico was himself a friar in this very monastery. Understanding monasticism can help us understand the painting. San Marco was a Dominican institution, dedicated to poverty, preaching and study. The Dominican order was committed to self-reform and renewal within the Church. Angelico’s art was meant to be didactic, devotional, and accessible, in line with the order's progressive views. The history of religious institutions can teach us a great deal about the art they produce. Examining records from San Marco would help us better understand the role of this image within the monastery and the social function of art at this time.