Fra
Angelico was an Italian painter of the early
Renaissance who combined the life of a devout
friar with that of an accomplished painter.
He was called Angelico (Italian for 'angelic')
and Beato (Italian for 'blessed') because the
paintings he did were of calm, religious subjects
and because of his extraordinary personal piety.
Originally named Guido di Pietro, Angelico was
born in Vicchio, Tuscany.
He entered a Dominican convent in Fiesole in
1418 and about 1425 became a friar using the
name Giovanni da Fiesole. Although his teacher
is unknown, he apparently began his career as
an illuminator of missals and other religious
books. He began to paint altarpieces and other
panels.
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