FRA GIOVANNI ANGELICO
of Fiesole
of the Order of Friars Preachers
Painter
(1387-1455)

Name: Mary
Date: 2003-05-02
Comments: I wouldn't call it pretty, though the colors are arresting. What is strking is the pathos. Angelico identified strongly with the sorrow, helplessness and dispair of the mothers. So much so that he attempted giving the women facial expressions that showed those feelings and did many of them well. This was an innovation, faces were usually emotionless until this time.

Name: Maaliki
Date: 2004-04-02
Comments: The brutality and violent depiction set down in this painting is beyond endurance. It must have pained Fra Angelico to have used vibrant colors and such detail, only that it may be seen better.