The artwork, “The Healing of Palladia by Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian,” is a tempera on panel painting created by the Italian artist Fra Angelico between 1438 and 1440. This work is part of the Early Renaissance period and measures 46.5 cm by 36.5 cm. It belongs to the religious painting genre and forms part of the San Marco Altarpiece series.
In the artwork, two distinct scenes are depicted within a single architectural space split by a column. On the left, within the confines of a vaulted chamber, we see a figure lying in bed, who represents the patient, Palladia. She is attended by two haloed figures, identified as Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, who are performing a miraculous healing. These saints, traditionally known to be holy physicians, are portrayed in the process of treating Palladia, their postures and gestures focused and precise.
To the right of the column, yet another narrative unfolds in an outdoor scene. Here, we observe the same haloed figures, Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, encountering a woman who greets them at a building’s entrance. It appears as if an act of charity or a key moment of narrative significance is transpiring between these individuals. The figures are clothed in garments that indicate their sanctity, complete with golden halos to signify their divine connection.
The painting is characterized by a linear and clear narrative style, which is emblematic of the Early Renaissance movement’s attention to detail and interest in spatial depth and perspective. Fra Angelico demonstrates these with careful architectural renderings and the use of linear perspective, particularly notable in the depictions of the building and the floor tiles. The artwork exudes a sense of tranquility and grace, indicative of the spiritual and contemplative nature of Fra Angelico’s oeuvre.
