“Scenes from the Life of Christ” by Fra Angelico, created between 1451 and 1452, is a tempera panel painting prominently representative of the Early Renaissance art movement. The artwork measures 123 x 123 cm and belongs to the genre of religious painting. It is part of the series “Paintings for the Armadio degli Argenti” and is currently housed in the Basilica di San Marco, Florence, Italy.
The artwork is composed of twelve distinct yet interconnected scenes, each depicting significant events from the life of Christ. The scenes are meticulously arranged in a grid format, with four rows and three columns. Each scene is imbued with rich narrative detail and emotional intensity, capturing moments from the Passion, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ. The top row begins with the betrayal and arrest of Christ, followed by His judgment by Pilate, and His crucifixion. The middle row illustrates the deposition from the cross, the resurrection, and Christ’s post-resurrection appearances. The bottom row culminates with the Ascension, the Last Judgment, and the scenes of the saved and the damned. Fra Angelico’s masterful use of tempera, combined with the fresco backdrop and reflective golden accents, enhances the spiritual and luminous quality of the narrative, making it a profound representation of Early Renaissance religious art.
