San Marco Monastery founded in 13th century has been heavily rebuild, when in 1437 Cosimo il Vecchio invited there the Dominican monks from nearby Fiesole.
Large sums were paid for rebuilding works directed by Cosimo’s fovourite architect Michelozzo.
The task of adorning the walls of the monastery has been commissioned to Beato Angelico, who after completing the frescoes ( done between 1438 – 1446 ) became also known as Fra Giovanni.
For centuries the monastery has been visited by the artists, especially scholars from the neighbouring Accademia delle Belle Arte, and finally in 1869 the monastery opened its interiors for wide public, keeping only small number of rooms for the monks needs.
Today the museum in San Marco features the largest collection of works of Fra Angelico.
The visit starts from Cloisters of Sant’Antonino where on the wall of the Renaissance lobby surrounding the huge cedar from Lebanon there is fresco San Domenico adoring the Cross.
Right of the main entrance, the former Hospice room displays the greatests masterpieces of Fra Angelico, including the Last Judgement painted originally for Santa Maria degli Angeli church, Pala di Bosco ai Frati, and Pala di Annalena.
Next room Capitolo features Angelico’s Crucifiction.
The Dormitory cells on the first floor were adorned with frescoes from the life of Jesus helping monks with prayers and meditation.
On the wall opposite to the steps leading to the dormitory there is another masterpiece Announciation.
In the cells 12-15 on display there are items connected with Savonarola, who became the father superior of the monastery in 1491. The cells 38 and 39 with Adoration of Maggi were kept for Cosimo il Vecchio, the frequent visitor of San Marco.
To complete the visit one should see the first in Europe public Library, and going down a small Refectory with Last Super by Ghirandaio.
Museo di San Marco
Piazza San Marco 3, Firenze
open:
Mon-Fri : 8.15-13.50
Sat-Sun and feasts 8.15-16.50
[on the photo detail from Annunciation by Fra Angelico ]
