St Sixtus Entrusts the Church Treasures to Lawrence

St Sixtus Entrusts the Church Treasures to Lawrence (left panel) and St. Lawrence giving alms (right Panel. east wall, Cappella Niccolina, Palazzi Pontifici, Vatican. Fresco by Fra Angelico (c1400-55) Italian painter. In 1447, or perhaps earlier, Fra Angelico was in Rome, where he painted the private chapel of Pope Nicholas V with scenes from the lives of St Lawrence and St Stephen. Sixtus converted to Christianity as an adult. He served as a deacon in Rome before he was consecrated as Pope on August 30, 257. Sixtus was the Pope for less than a year, before he was martyred. In the fresco Saint Lawrence Giving Alms, the artist consciously compares the saint to Christ. Clearly written on the pectoral of his red dalmatic, which is emblazoned with mystical flames, are the letters: JHESVS CHRISTVS

1447 Alms Angelico C1400-55 Cappella Clearly Compares Consciously Consecrated Converted Dalmatic Deacon Earlier Emblazoned Entrusts Less Martyred Mystical Niccolina Palazzi Pectoral Perhaps Pontifici Quattrocento Sixtus Treasures Vatican

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