Conférence: Bette Talvacchia, "Labels, decorum, and decoration in the art of Fra Giovanni da Fiesole/Beato Angelico", Florence, NIKI, 16 janvier 2026

The sanctification of an artist through the use of the title beato inevitably shapes how his professional output is perceived. His works are often regarded as possessing a consecrated quality in themselves. The name Fra Angelico carries a similar weight: it conjures a celestial aura, transforming a historical individual into an “angelic” figure. Combined with Fra—the designation for a monk—this epithet suggests not only a saintly character but also a possible transcendence in his artistic pr...