I precursori di Cristo con santi e martiri (c.1423-1424)

Angelico, Fra (c.1395-1455)

I precursori di Cristo con santi e martiri (The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs)
c.14231424
Egg tempera on wood, 31.9 x 63.5 cm
National GalleryLondon

This panel comes from the predella (the lowest part) of an altarpiece made for the church of San Domenico, Fiesole, near Florence. Its figures look towards the central panel, which shows Christ resurrected from the dead.

Lined up in neat rows are – from top to bottom – 21 biblical figures regarded by the Christian Church as precursors of Christ, male martyr saints and female martyr saints. The top row includes only one New Testament figure: Saint John the Baptist, holding a cross and wearing a camel skin tunic. He looks directly at us and points towards Christ; in the Gospel of John he announced Christ’s ministry and significance as the son of God.

The male martyrs include Saint Stephen, heading up the middle row. He wears green and has a stone on his shoulder, a reference to his stoning. Below him, in red, is Saint Thecla, the first female martyr. (NG)

These panel comes from the predella (lowest part) of the altarpiece made for the high altar of San Domenico, Fiesole.

See also:

Predella della Pala di San Domenico (c.1423-1424)