Tabernacle of the Linaioli
Lorenzo Ghiberti·1433
Historical Context
The Tabernacle of the Linaioli (Linen Workers) was commissioned in 1433 from Lorenzo Ghiberti, the sculptor famed for the Florence Baptistry doors. Fra Angelico painted the interior panels while Ghiberti designed the elaborate marble frame. This collaboration between Florence's greatest sculptor and one of its finest painters was commissioned by the Arte dei Linaioli, one of the city's powerful guilds, for their guild hall.
Technical Analysis
The painted panels demonstrate Fra Angelico's luminous tempera technique with rich ultramarine blue and gold leaf, set within Ghiberti's classically inspired marble tabernacle frame that integrates sculpture and painting.
