ANGELICO, Fra
(b. ca. 1400, Vicchio nell Mugello, d. 1455, Roma)

West wall of the chapel

1447-49
Fresco
Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican

The fresco cycle consists of scenes from the lives of the archdeacons Stephen (lunette) and Lawrence (bottom register).

On the lunette of the west wall, 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 seen bestowing the same office on St Lawrence. This lunette presents a second scene of St Stephen distributing alms to the poor. The corresponding motif from the life of St Lawrence appears in the right-hand picture compartment of the north wall, above the entry.

There are also two original windows on the west wall.