The artwork, titled “Presentation of Jesus in the Temple,” was created by Fra Angelico between 1440 and 1442. This fresco, exemplifying the Early Renaissance style, is a religious painting located in the Basilica di San Marco in Florence, Italy.
The fresco captures the moment when the infant Jesus is presented at the Temple, a significant event in Christian tradition. Central to the composition are figures rendered with delicate features and luminous halos, signifying their holy stature. The elderly man, depicted with a long white beard and light green and mustard-colored robes, holds the swaddled infant Jesus. To his right is a figure dressed in black with devoutly clasped hands, while another figure, perhaps Mary, is portrayed in a deep blue mantle. To the left, a man in ochre robes holds an offering basket, with another figure, possibly Joseph, standing by. The use of soft, harmonious colors and the gentle, serene expressions on the faces of the figures exemplify Fra Angelico’s mastery in conveying spiritual reverence and divine presence. Light emanating from above underscores the sacred nature of the scene, enchanting the entire composition with a divine glow.
