Saint Dominic Adoring the Crucifixion 1442

Fra Angelico painted this fresco of Saint Dominic Adoring the Crucifixion in the first half of the 15th century at the Basilica di San Marco, Florence. It shows the founder of the Dominican order kneeling before the crucified Christ. This image was made during a time of increasing wealth in Florence, when powerful families like the Medici funded lavish building projects. In 1436, Cosimo de Medici financed the renovation of the San Marco convent and commissioned Fra Angelico to decorate the walls of its monastic cells. Fra Angelico, himself a friar, was an interesting choice. His devotional images such as this one encouraged monks to contemplate the suffering of Christ. Yet, by placing such works within the private cells of individual monks, the Medici were consolidating their cultural power. Understanding art requires a sensitivity to the social and institutional histories that shape the production of images. To understand this work better, scholars consult a range of primary source documents, including monastic records, letters, and financial accounts.