Fresco cycle in the Prato Cathedral (1452-66)
by Fra Filippo LIPPI

The frescoes in the choir of the Cathedral in Prato represent a long drawn-out but major effort by the master, and they seem to have been produced slowly and sporadically between 1452 and 1466. The enormous scale of the choir and consequently the painted subjects, a far cry from the intimate frescoes of the Brancacci Chapel, must be taken into account for an effective evaluation. The cycle has been restored recently, revealing powerful yet sensitive images produced with verve and facility during a late period in Lippi's development.

The Prato frescoes were both an artistic and a physical challenge for the aging painter, and, particularly in the large scenes on either side of the choir with stories of St John the Baptist and St Stephen, an ample share of the execution may be attributed to workshop assistants.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
View of the fresco cycle
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

951*1200
True Color
173 Kb



View of the fresco cycle
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1000*1199
True Color
248 Kb



View of the left (north) wall of the main chapel
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

900*1373
True Color
233 Kb



View of the right (south) wall of the main chapel
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

900*1359
True Color
231 Kb



St Luke the Evangelist
c. 1454
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

702*879
True Color
143 Kb



St John the Evangelist
c. 1454
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

709*888
True Color
146 Kb



St Stephen is Born and Replaced by Another Child
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1150*770
True Color
131 Kb



St Stephen is Born and Replaced by Another Child (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

900*1006
True Color
195 Kb



St Stephen is Born and Replaced by Another Child (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

920*997
True Color
189 Kb



St Stephen is Born and Replaced by Another Child (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

720*1002
True Color
174 Kb



Disputation in the Synagogue
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1271*770
True Color
194 Kb



Disputation in the Synagogue (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

802*1115
True Color
164 Kb



Disputation in the Synagogue (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

801*1112
True Color
168 Kb



Disputation in the Synagogue (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

802*1114
True Color
169 Kb



Disputation in the Synagogue (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

913*1200
True Color
207 Kb



The Funeral of St Stephen
1460
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1400*806
True Color
199 Kb



The Funeral of St Stephen (detail)
1460
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1100*1166
True Color
197 Kb



The Funeral of St Stephen (detail)
1460
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

800*1102
True Color
116 Kb



The Funeral of St Stephen (detail)
1460
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

800*1055
True Color
129 Kb



The Funeral of St Stephen (detail)
1460
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1000*1196
True Color
184 Kb



The Funeral of St Stephen (detail)
1460
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1030*775
True Color
149 Kb



The Martyrdom of St Stephen
1460
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

821*1400
True Color
179 Kb



St Alberto of Trapani
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

802*1300
True Color
216 Kb



St Alberto of Trapani
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

613*1400
True Color
156 Kb



Birth and Naming St John
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1218*767
True Color
127 Kb



Birth and Naming St John (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

760*1053
True Color
172 Kb



St John Taking Leave of His Parents
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1300*828
True Color
196 Kb



St John Taking Leave of his Parents (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

801*1189
True Color
167 Kb



St John Taking Leave of His Parents (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

940*1200
True Color
198 Kb



St John Taking Leave of His Parents (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

950*1137
True Color
188 Kb



Herod's Banquet
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1500*798
True Color
198 Kb



Herod's Banquet (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

850*1183
True Color
171 Kb



Herod's Banquet (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

900*1241
True Color
192 Kb



Herod's Banquet (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

1000*1182
True Color
180 Kb



Herod's Banquet (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

801*1042
True Color
149 Kb



Herod's Banquet (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

801*1045
True Color
155 Kb



Herod's Banquet (detail)
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

914*1100
True Color
169 Kb



The Beheading of John the Baptist
1452-65
Fresco
Duomo, Prato

914*1100
True Color
159 Kb



Choir chapel window
1452-65
Stained glass
Duomo, Prato

564*1400
True Color
198 Kb




Summary of works by Fra Filippo Lippi
Paintings
in the 1430s | in the 1440s | in the 1450s | in the 1460s
Fresco cycles
Prato Cathedral | Spoleto Cathedral