Niccoline Chapel
St. Peter Consecrates St. Laurence as Deacon | |
---|---|
Artist | Fra Angelico |
Year | 1447–1449 |
Type | Fresco |
Dimensions | 271 cm × 197 cm (107 in × 78 in) |
The Niccoline Chapel (Italian: Cappella Niccolina) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. It is especially notable for its fresco paintings by Fra Angelico (1447–1451) and his assistants, who may have executed much of the actual work. The name is derived from its patron, Pope Nicholas V, who had it built for use as his private chapel.
The chapel is located in the Tower of
The chapel is not included in the usual tourist visit, but can be seen by special pre-booked groups.[1]
Frescos
Fra Angelico depicted a
The scenes of St. Stephen follow the Biblical account in the Acts of the Apostles, while those of St. Laurence are patterned after the older cycles in the basilica of
Laurence was a deacon (Ordination of St Laurence) to whom Pope
The frescoes, full of fine architectural details, allude also to Nicholas V's desire to rebuild Rome as the new capital city of Christianity. The large walls in the Martyrdom of St. Stephen hint at the rebuilding of Rome's walls. Further, the schism in the Jewish community in Jerusalem can be compared to the Christian schism witnessed by Nicholas (who is portrayed in the frescoes as Pope Sixtus II).
Gallery
Left wall
Centre wall
Right wall
See also
- Index of Vatican City-related articles
References
- Hinzen-Bohlen, Brigitte (2000). Kunst & Architektur – ROM. Cologne: Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft.
- Staccioli, Paola (2003). Guida insolita dei musei di Roma e della Città del Vaticano. Rome: Newton Compton.