DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51584#0122
118
EARLY ITALIAN PAINTERS.
tiful town situated on a hill overlooking Florence ;
and in 1407, being then twenty, and already skilled
in the art of painting, particularly miniature illu-
minations of Missals and choral-books, he entered
the Dominican convent of St. Mark at Florence,
and took the habit of the order. It is not known
exactly under whom he studied, but he is said to
have been taught by Stamina, the best colourist of
that time. The rest of his long life of seventy years
presents only one unbroken tranquil stream of placid
contentment and pious labours. Except on one
occasion, when called to Rome by Pope Nicholas V.
to paint in the Vatican, he never left his convent,
and then only yielded to the express command
of the pontiff. While he was at Rome, the Arch-
bishopric of Florence became vacant, and the pope,
struck by the virtue and learning of Angelico, and
the simplicity and sanctity of his life, offered to
install him in that dignity, one of the greatest in
the power of the papal see to bestow. Angelico
refused it from excess of modesty, pointing out at
the same time to the notice of the pope a brother
of his convent as much more worthy of the honour,
and by his active talents more fitted for the office.
The pope listened to his recommendation; Frate
Antonio was raised to the see, and became cele-
brated as the best Archbishop of Florence that had
been known for two centuries. Meantime Angelico
pursued his vocation in the still precincts of his
EARLY ITALIAN PAINTERS.
tiful town situated on a hill overlooking Florence ;
and in 1407, being then twenty, and already skilled
in the art of painting, particularly miniature illu-
minations of Missals and choral-books, he entered
the Dominican convent of St. Mark at Florence,
and took the habit of the order. It is not known
exactly under whom he studied, but he is said to
have been taught by Stamina, the best colourist of
that time. The rest of his long life of seventy years
presents only one unbroken tranquil stream of placid
contentment and pious labours. Except on one
occasion, when called to Rome by Pope Nicholas V.
to paint in the Vatican, he never left his convent,
and then only yielded to the express command
of the pontiff. While he was at Rome, the Arch-
bishopric of Florence became vacant, and the pope,
struck by the virtue and learning of Angelico, and
the simplicity and sanctity of his life, offered to
install him in that dignity, one of the greatest in
the power of the papal see to bestow. Angelico
refused it from excess of modesty, pointing out at
the same time to the notice of the pope a brother
of his convent as much more worthy of the honour,
and by his active talents more fitted for the office.
The pope listened to his recommendation; Frate
Antonio was raised to the see, and became cele-
brated as the best Archbishop of Florence that had
been known for two centuries. Meantime Angelico
pursued his vocation in the still precincts of his