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Fra Filippo Lippi
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
- Fra Filippo Lippi: Florentine Master of the Annunciation
- Influence and Artistic Development
- Early Works
- Master of the Annunciation
- Career and Achievements
Fra Filippo Lippi: Florentine Master of the Annunciation
Early Life and EducationFra Filippo Lippi, born Filippo di Tommaso, was a renowned Florentine painter who excelled in the depiction of the Annunciation. He was born in Florence on October 8, 1406, into the family of an impoverished butcher. After losing his parents at a young age, he was cared for by his aunt. At the age of 15, he was taken into the care of the Carmelite friars of the Carmine Monastery, where he took monastic vows.
Despite his religious vocation, Lippi's interest in art prevailed. Instead of studying, he spent his time drawing, defacing his books with "grotesque figures." The prior recognized his talent and allowed him to pursue his artistic endeavors.
Influence and Artistic Development
Lippi's artistic development was influenced by the work of Masolino da Panicale, Masaccio, and Fra Angelico. Masaccio and Masolino were active in Florence during Lippi's youth, and their frescoes at the Carmine Monastery profoundly impacted the young artist.
Early Works
Lippi's earliest surviving work, the Madonna of Tarquinia, was painted in 1437 and is now housed in the Barberini Palace in Rome. The depiction of the Virgin Mary is notable for its simplicity and domesticity.
Master of the Annunciation
Lippi became widely known for his poetic and exquisitely ornamented Annunciation scenes. His interpretations of this biblical subject are characterized by their delicate linework and attention to detail.
Career and Achievements
Lippi worked primarily in Florence, with notable commissions in Padua, Prato, and Spoleto. He collaborated with Niccolò Pizzolo in the decoration of the Palazzo del Podestà in Padua from 1434 to 1438. From 1453 to 1465, he executed frescoes in the Duomo of Prato. His final work, a fresco cycle in the Cathedral of Spoleto, was left unfinished after his death on October 9, 1469.
