LIPPI, FILIPPINO

(c. 1457-1504)

Filippino was the son ofFra Filippo Lippiand the nun Lucrezia Buti. He first trained as painter with his father, but when his father died in 1469,Sandro Botticellicared for him and completed his training. Filippino's first important commission was the completion of the decoration of theBrancacci Chapelat Santa Maria del Carmine,Florence, whereMasaccioandMasolinohad worked. To add to the scenes already in the chapel, in 1481-1482 Filippinofrescoedfurther episodes fromSt.Peter's life. In 1489, Filippino began work in the Carafa Chapel at Santa Maria sopra Minerva,Rome, belonging to Cardinal Oliviero Carafa who in 1472 had commanded the papal fleet against the Turks. The scenes depict the life ofSt.Thomas Aquinas, as well as theAssumptionandAnnunciationwhere the saint presents Cardinal Carafa to theVirgin. By 1502, Filippino was back in Florence working for Filippo Strozzi on his chapel in the Church ofSanta Maria Novella, frescoing scenes from the lives of Sts. Philip andJohn the Evangelist. These includeSt.Philip Driving the Dragon from the Temple of Hieropolis, theCrucifixion of St Philip,St.John the Evangelist Resuscitating Druisana, and theTorture of St.John the Evangelist. Filippino'sVision of St.Bernard(c. 1485-1490), now in the Church of the Badia in Florence but originally intended for the Monastic Church of Le Campora at Marignolle, demonstrates his close affinity to the style of Botticelli. His figures, like Botticelli's, are elongated, with emphasis on linearity, and rendered in intense blues, reds, and oranges.