Raising of the Son of Teophilus and St. Peter Enthroned

The Raising of the Son of Theophilus and Saint Peter Enthroned is one of the most important frescoes in the Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence. Begun by Masaccio around 1427 and left unfinished at his death in 1428, it was completed by Filippino Lippi around 1481-1482. The scene depicts Saint Peter raising the son of the prefect of Antioch from the dead and then being enthroned as the first bishop of that city. The Brancacci Chapel frescoes were the most influential paintings of the early fifteenth century, studied by virtually every major Florentine artist including Michelangelo.

The composition is organized with Masaccio's characteristic spatial clarity, the architectural setting creating a convincing stage for the narrative action. The distinction between Masaccio's portions and Filippino Lippi's later completion is visible in the different treatment of figures — Masaccio's are more massive and sculpturally modeled, while Filippino's are more linear and decorative. The fresco technique demonstrates Masaccio's confident buon fresco application and his ability to organize complex multi-figure narratives in coherent spatial settings.