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.

Preview	Picture Data	Info
	View of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	View of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Triumph of St Thomas Aquinas over the Heretics (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Annunciation 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Annunciation (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Annunciation (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Altar wall of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Annunciation 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Assumption 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Assumption and Annunciation (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Assumption (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Assumption and Annunciation (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Right wall of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Miracle of St Thomas Aquinas 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas (detail) 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	The Ceiling of the Carafa Chapel 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	The Delphic Sibyl 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome
	The Cumean Sibyl 1489-91 Fresco Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome