Page 282 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

280  CENTR AL IT AL Y

He paid a considerable sum to Deposition (c.1432–4), an altar­
have the convent rebuilt by his piece painted for the church
favourite architect, Michelozzo, of Santa Trinità; the Madonna
whose simple cloisters and dei Linaiuoli, commissioned by
cells provide the setting for a the Linaiuoli (flaxworkers’ guild)
remarkable series of devotional in 1433; and the moving
frescoes (c.1438–45) by Lamentation over Christ
Florentine painter and (c.1436–41), painted for Santa
Dominican friar Fra Angelico. Maria della Croce al Tempio.
The convent and art collections In the courtyard, right of the
form the Museo di San Marco. convent’s former bell, is the
Michelozzo’s magnificent vaulted Sala Capitolare
Chiostro di Sant’Antonino (Chapterhouse), decorated with
was named after the convent’s a noted but over­restored
first prior, Antonino Pierozzi Crucifixion and Saints (1440)
The light and airy former library, designed (1389–1459), who painted by Fra Angelico.
by Michelozzo later became the Covering one wall of the small
Archbishop of Refettorio (refectory) is a
2 Convento di Florence. Most of fresco of the Last
Supper (c.1480) by
the faded frescoes
San Marco in this cloister Domenico
describe scenes Ghirlandaio.
Piazza di San Marco. Map 2 D4. Tel 055
28 76 28 (information). Open 7am– from the Stairs from the
noon, 4–8pm. 5 Museo di San Marco: saint’s life by courtyard lead to
Tel 055 238 86 08 (reserva tions). Open Bernardino the first floor,
8:15am–1:50pm daily (to 4:50pm Sat Poccetti. The where you
& Sun). Closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec; panels in the A detail from Fra Angelico’s poignant suddenly see
2nd & 4th Mon of month; 1st, 3rd & corner are by Fra Lamentation over Christ (c.1436–41) Fra Angelico’s
5th Sun of month. & 7 ^ Angelico. A door Annunciation
in the right side of the cloister (c.1440), thought by many to be
The Convent of San Marco was leads to the Ospizio dei among the city’s most beautiful
founded in the 13th century Pellegrini (Pilgrims’ Hospice). Renaissance paintings. Beyond,
and enlarged in 1437, when Today it houses the museum’s ranged around three sides of
Dominican monks from nearby freestanding paintings, the cloister, are the Dormitory
Fiesole moved there at including three famous Cells. These 44 tiny monastic
the invitation of masterpieces: Fra cells are frescoed with scenes
Cosimo il Angelico’s from The Life of Christ by Fra
Vecchio. Angelico and assistants (1439–
45). The cells numbered 1 to 11
are generally attributed to Fra
Angelico personally, as is the
lovely fresco of the Madonna
and Saints on the right of the
corridor (see p36).
Cells 12–14 were once
occupied by Savonarola, the
zealous Dominican monk who
became Prior of San Marco in
1491. Among other deeds,
Savonarola incited Florentines
to rebel against the Medici and
was responsible for the burning
of many works of art. Denounced
as a heretic, he was burned at
the stake in 1498.
Along the third corridor lies
an airy colonnaded hall, formerly
a public library designed by
Michelozzo in 1441 for Cosimo
il Vecchio. Beyond it lie two cells
(38 and 39) that were used by
Cosimo when he went on retreat
Fra Angelico’s allegorical fresco, the Mocking of Christ (c.1442), showing Jesus blindfolded here. They are both larger than
and being struck by a Roman guard any of the neighbouring rooms.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp569–73 and pp590–96

280-281_EW_Italy.indd 280 4/4/17 5:35 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm