Frescoes on the west wall of the Cappella Niccolina
by Fra ANGELICO

The walls of the chapel present the lives of the two archdeacons in two registers. The upper register, composed of three lunettes, is devoted to St Stephen; the lower one, with rectangular compartments, is given to St Lawrence, who is thus clearly given precedence. The descriptions from the career of St Stephen follow the Golden Legend, those of St Lawrence are patterned after the older cycles in his Roman tomb church of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.

The two picture cycles begin on the west wall which also has two original window. In the lunette, St Peter, prince of the apostles, is anointing St Stephen, deacon of the church. In the smaller compartment of the lower register, between the two windows, St Sixtus is bestowing the same office on St Lawrence. This lunette also presents a second scene of Stephen distributing alms to the poor.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
West wall of the chapel
1447-49
Fresco
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

750*1375
True Color
181 Kb



Lunette of the west wall
1447-49
Fresco, 322 x 472 cm
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

1266*850
True Color
191 Kb



St Peter Consacrates Stephen as Deacon
1447-49
Fresco
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

898*1142
True Color
158 Kb



St Peter Consacrates Stephen as Deacon (detail)
1447-49
Fresco
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

870*1045
True Color
188 Kb



St Stephen Distributing Alms
1447-49
Fresco
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

829*1200
True Color
163 Kb



St Stephen Distributing Alms (detail)
1447-49
Fresco
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

900*1086
True Color
187 Kb



Sixtus II Consacrates St Lawrence as Deacon
1447-49
Fresco, 271 x 197 cm
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

897*1200
True Color
178 Kb




Summary of paintings by Fra Angelico
Altarpieces
San Domenico | Prado | Linaioli | Last Judgment | Annunciation
Cortona Triptych | Perugia | San Marco | Trinitŕ | Various
Frescoes
Convent of San Marco: cells, others | Cappella Niccolina
Other works
Armadio degli Argenti | Various panels | Miscellaneous