...with Fra Angelico.
I had heard of him, maybe seen a few of his paintings here and there, but he'd made no impression on me. That changed a few days ago.
In a small room at the Thyssen, Fra Angelico's The Virgin of Humility was on display, isolated from all other works, and it just knocked me out.
I'm sure my photo does it no justice, and I have no confidence in my ability to express why I found this work transcendent. I don't usually respond so emotionally to religious art! Words that come to mind include purity, clarity, serenity, and radiance. And the color!
Much of its impact, I'm sure, comes from the fact that it was recently subjected to extensive renovation. Near the painting, there was a six-minute video about that process, and I found it online (with English subtitles). It really added to my appreciation of the painting.
Fra Angelico -- the Angelic Friar -- painted like an angel. No, make that an archangel.
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