The artwork titled “Circumcision” was created by the artist Fra Angelico between 1451 and 1452. Rendered in tempera on panel, this piece is a part of the Early Renaissance art movement. The painting, measuring 38.5 x 37 cm, belongs to the genre of religious painting and is one of the paintings for the Armadio degli Argenti. It is currently located in the Basilica di San Marco in Florence, Italy.
In the artwork, Fra Angelico captures the solemn scene of Christ’s circumcision within an interior space, possibly a temple suggested by the architectural elements present. The figures depicted, including the infant Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and the officiant in his ceremonial attire, are arranged around an altar-like structure draped with a cloth. The use of light, delicate colors, and detailed expressions emphasizes the gravity and sanctity of the ritual. The presence of onlookers and additional figures behind forms a sense of community witnessing the rite, anchored by the serene and divine atmosphere typical of the religious themes in Fra Angelico’s oeuvre. The inscriptions above and below frame the narrative, affirming its biblical context.
