Filippino Lippi began work in 1489 in the Carafa Chapel, dedicated to the Virgin of Annunciation and to St Thomas Aquinas, of the Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. This was the funerary chapel of the Neapolitan Cardinal Oliviero Carafa, an energetic opponent of the Turks: in 1472 he had commanded the papal fleet in battle against the Turks.

The decoration has three main themes: Carafa, as prince of the church, Carafa as protector of the Dominican Order (he claimed to be descended from St Dominic's family), and a celebration of his qualities. On the vault are Medici emblems and those of the Carafa, symbolizing the close relationship between the two families. On the right hand wall are scenes from the life of St Thomas Aquinas. The altar wall has an Assumption and the central part of the wall an Annunciation and Aquinas presenting Cardinal Carafa to the Virgin. According to Vasari, the left wall was originally painted with a battle of virtues and vices. However, it was reworked in 1559 by Pirro Ligorio, when the monument to Pope Paul IV, nephew of Cardinal Oliviero, was constructed.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 3 minutes): Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Marche en Rondeau

Preview	Picture Data	File Info	Comment
	View of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	900*1217 True Color 224 Kb
	View of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	1000*1343 True Color 176 Kb
	Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	700*1248 True Color 226 Kb
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	969*770 True Color 192 Kb
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	900*1090 True Color 190 Kb
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	860*1100 True Color 196 Kb
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	902*628 True Color 116 Kb
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	900*1083 True Color 175 Kb
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	1078*750 True Color 160 Kb
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	1000*1276 True Color 209 Kb
	Annunciation 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	900*1081 True Color 156 Kb
	Annunciation (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	876*1200 True Color 205 Kb
	Annunciation (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	900*1187 True Color 186 Kb
	Altar wall of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	900*1153 True Color 224 Kb
	Annunciation 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	720*1034 True Color 179 Kb
	Assumption 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	1092*770 True Color 205 Kb
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	650*1161 True Color 190 Kb
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	900*1088 True Color 211 Kb
	Assumption and Annunciation (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	607*875 True Color 105 Kb
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	800*1125 True Color 195 Kb
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	800*1017 True Color 194 Kb
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	852*1030 True Color 214 Kb
	Assumption and Annunciation (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	701*1002 True Color 128 Kb
	Right wall of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	900*1087 True Color 221 Kb
	Miracle of St Thomas Aquinas 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	864*608 True Color 108 Kb
	Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	1024*709 True Color 115 Kb
	Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	1020*714 True Color 128 Kb
	Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	702*1018 True Color 125 Kb
	The Ceiling of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	800*1019 True Color 207 Kb
	The Delphic Sibyl 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	1077*900 True Color 210 Kb
	The Cumean Sibyl 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome	1025*700 True Color 146 Kb