Brief Biography-A Dominican monk, Fra Angelico, was one of the most prominent Renaissance artists. Vecchio, north of Florence, was his birthplace. Sometime after 1418, he entered the monastery at Fiesole in the hills overlooking Florence. He was a very pious man who could have chosen to live a prosperous life and was called Angelic because of his devotion to God.
Fra Giovanni was his name in the orders, but his real name was Guido di Pietro-Guy, Son of Peter. He started his artistic career decorating manuscripts; however, he is mainly known for his expertise in frescos. All payments for his art went to the monastery. There is evidence that he may have been initially instructed in art by a monk called Lorenzo Monaco. He dedicated all his work to the church but also painted professionally.
Pope Eugenius IV summoned him to Rome in 1445 to paint in the Cappella del Sacramento of Saint Peter. In 1447, Nicholas V succeeded Eugenius and commissioned further work for his chapel and studies. Nicholas V was so impressed by Fra Angelico, the man, that he wanted him to be Archbishop of Florence, but the humble man turned it down. His most famous works were carried out between 1440 and 1445 in the monastery of San Marco in Florence; he decorated many rooms with frescos. All of which are on view in the sanctuary to this day. In 1455, he died in Rome. He rests in the monastery of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.