Coronation of the Virgin (detail) 1435

Fra Angelico created this segment of "The Coronation of the Virgin," in Florence in the 1430s, probably using tempera paint and gold leaf. This detail shows some of the musical angels. Consider the gold, glowing and shimmering, not only in the halos but as a kind of celestial embroidery. To make that effect, the artist would have applied the gold leaf painstakingly, burnishing it to a high sheen. This was an expensive process, reflecting the value placed on the heavenly subject matter. But it also shows the influence of craft traditions. Think of the goldwork produced by goldsmiths at the time, or the elaborate decoration of illuminated manuscripts. These disciplines were not so far removed from painting as we might think today. Angelico was as much a skilled artisan as a fine artist, and his work demonstrates the importance of material richness and technical mastery. It suggests we should set aside modern categories and instead appreciate the common ground between art and craft in the Renaissance.