Virgin and Child with Sts. Dominic and Thomas Aquinas 1445

Fra Angelico painted “Virgin and Child with Sts. Dominic and Thomas Aquinas” sometime in the mid-15th century, likely in Florence, Italy. In this period, religious images weren't just about devotion; they were powerful social statements, reinforcing the authority of the Church and its teachings. The presence of Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order, and Thomas Aquinas, a major theologian, is no accident. Both were central figures in shaping religious doctrine and education. The painting would have been commissioned by an important religious institution. The very act of creating it was embedded in a complex web of patronage, religious doctrine, and artistic practice. By studying archival records of religious orders, and by researching the theological context, we can better understand the painting's original significance and its role in shaping religious thought. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.