Assumption of the Virgin, Fra Angelico (1387-1455)
Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the status of Mary as mother of God found expression in the lives of everyday women and men. Paintings in churches, people’s homes and public buildings often included an image of the Virgin. How was people’s faith shaped by these paintings? Fra Angelico’s depiction of the Assumption of the Virgin comprises this central scene as part of a larger panel. The Dominican friar painter celebrates the moment when the Virgin passes from earthly life to her heavenly home. To do so he deploys a gorgeous coloristic display of the most exquisite shades of blue, red and green. Mary stands full-length encircled by angels, her form radiating light. Meanwhile, the hues of the garments worn by those angels further from the Virgin appear more saturated in luminous colour. This dispersion of colour from centre to periphery evokes symbolically the mystery of redemption as it radiates throughout the world. Like the love that issues forth from Christ to transform all creation, Mary emits a force-field of love of such intensity that it cannot be contained. Light emanating from Mary passes through a painterly metamorphosis into dazzling colour. The light radiating from her garment seems to suffuse the entire space, just as God’s love suffuses this world. The beauteous pigments of this painting make the Virgin live for us through a theology transmuted into colour.
Art Guide Resource
The 2013 Art Guide has been compiled by Claire Renkin, well-known Art Historian and Lecturer at Yarra Theological Union and narrated by Margaret Coffey. Margaret has a background in historical research, journalism, education and broadcasting including at the ABC. Artworks featured © Bridgeman Images.
Related Links
- VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Download the 2013 Art Guide (PDF) Resource
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