Fra Angelico
Mosaic
ca. 1866 (made)
ca. 1866 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This picture depicting Fra Angelico is part of a cycle of monumental mosaic portraits depicting famous artists. The series of originally 35 mosaics was created between 1864 and circa 1875 for the South Court of the South Kensington Museum, the later V&A. The mosaics were originally installed on the side walls as part of a decorative scheme celebrating the arts. The mosaic is made after a painting by Charles West Cope R.A. (1811-90).
One of the principal painters of the Early Renaissance in Florence, Frate Giovanni da Fiesole (ca.1400-1455), was better known as Fra Angelico. As a Domincan monk, Fra Angelico treated only religious subjects. His tempera paintings are distinguished by their pure and brilliant colour and their complex treatment of space and form. His most famous work is a cycle of frescoes which he painted after 1436 in the Domincan friary of San Marco, Florence.
The lilies, on the left, are a traditional symbol of chastity, for that reason associated with the Annunciation, a subject often painted by Fra Angelico. The lily is also the attribute of St. Dominic, the founder of Fra Angelico's Order. Fra Angelico is depicted holding painting equipment and looking up to heaven, implying that his work is divinely inspired.
The series of mostly idealised portraits against gold backgrounds soon became known by the public as the Kensington Valhalla. The term alludes to the Vallhall as eternal home of heroes in Norse mythology. It also refers to the concept of a reunion of outstanding personalities of different periods by the means of art. An earlier example of such a hall of fame is the Walhalla near Regensburg in Germany (opened in 1842).
The selection of the Kensington Valhalla includes many famous artists, from Phidias and Apelles as representatives of ancient Greece to contemporaries such as the Irish painter William Mulready who had died only five years before his mosaic was completed.
Mosaics played an important part in the canon of materials and techniques used for the interior decoration of the new South Kensington Museum. The ambitious project of a revival of the art of mosaics involved one of the major Venetian mosaic companies of the time, Salviati & Co. It also led to the innovation of the technique by the introduction of vitrified ceramics mosaics made by Minton, Hollins & Co. These ceramics mosaics were created following the cartoons of professional artists by female students, including members of the family of Henry Cole.
The Kensington Valhalla remained in place until 1949. Some of the mosaics are now on display in other galleries of the museum. In addition to the mosaics themselves, preparatory sketches and cartoons by established contemporary artists such as Edward Poynter or Lord Leighton are part of the V&A collection.
One of the principal painters of the Early Renaissance in Florence, Frate Giovanni da Fiesole (ca.1400-1455), was better known as Fra Angelico. As a Domincan monk, Fra Angelico treated only religious subjects. His tempera paintings are distinguished by their pure and brilliant colour and their complex treatment of space and form. His most famous work is a cycle of frescoes which he painted after 1436 in the Domincan friary of San Marco, Florence.
The lilies, on the left, are a traditional symbol of chastity, for that reason associated with the Annunciation, a subject often painted by Fra Angelico. The lily is also the attribute of St. Dominic, the founder of Fra Angelico's Order. Fra Angelico is depicted holding painting equipment and looking up to heaven, implying that his work is divinely inspired.
The series of mostly idealised portraits against gold backgrounds soon became known by the public as the Kensington Valhalla. The term alludes to the Vallhall as eternal home of heroes in Norse mythology. It also refers to the concept of a reunion of outstanding personalities of different periods by the means of art. An earlier example of such a hall of fame is the Walhalla near Regensburg in Germany (opened in 1842).
The selection of the Kensington Valhalla includes many famous artists, from Phidias and Apelles as representatives of ancient Greece to contemporaries such as the Irish painter William Mulready who had died only five years before his mosaic was completed.
Mosaics played an important part in the canon of materials and techniques used for the interior decoration of the new South Kensington Museum. The ambitious project of a revival of the art of mosaics involved one of the major Venetian mosaic companies of the time, Salviati & Co. It also led to the innovation of the technique by the introduction of vitrified ceramics mosaics made by Minton, Hollins & Co. These ceramics mosaics were created following the cartoons of professional artists by female students, including members of the family of Henry Cole.
The Kensington Valhalla remained in place until 1949. Some of the mosaics are now on display in other galleries of the museum. In addition to the mosaics themselves, preparatory sketches and cartoons by established contemporary artists such as Edward Poynter or Lord Leighton are part of the V&A collection.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Fra Angelico (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Vitrified enamel ceramic mosaic |
| Brief description | Mosaic panel, ceramic mosaic, depicting Fra Angelico, by Letitia M. Cole and Samuel Cooper after a painting by Charles West Cope R.A., Britain, about 1866 |
| Physical description | Vertical oblong ceramic mosaic with curved top depicting idealised full-length portrait of Fra Angelico (ca. 1395/1400-1455) |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'FRA ANGELICO' (on plinth) |
| Object history | This mosaic was created for the decoration of the South Court of the Museum. It is part of a cycle of mosaic portraits of famous artists. They were created between 1863 and ca. 1875 and installed in blind arcades on the upper level of the South Court. Historical significance: Only few extensive mosaic cycles were executed in the 19th century. Apart from the South Kensington Valhalla the mosaics of the Albert Memorial, Albert Memorial Chapel at Windsor, and at Saint Paul's Cathedral, all begun in 1864, were the only other comparable projects of the time. All of them were made by Salviati & Co. The mosaics of the South Kensington Valhalla are based upon designs of a variety of artists, some of whom were, or were to become, major figures of the Victorian art world. The commission is extremely well documented. The related documents and cartoons at the V&A make this cycle of mosaics not only an outstanding group of artistic value, but are also an excellent case study for the history of the buildings of the Museum. This is most likely an enlarged copy by Francis Moody, who was an employee of the museum, of a design by Charles West Cope (1811-1890); this copy is referred to in a letter in the museum files, dated 24 March 1865. Cope exhibited 'Fra Beato Angelico: Study of a figure to be executed in mosaic' at the RA in 1865 (171); this is noted in his Reminiscences as 'A small figure of Fra Angelico for a wall at South Kensington, afterwards executed, life-size, in mosaic, send to the Royal Academy [exhibition], and presented to that body…'. Cope's 'study', which has the appearance of a finished painting, is still in the RA collection (oil on canvas, 51 ½ x 16"), signed and dated 'CWE [in monogram]/1865' on gold background, bottom right. Cope specialised in literary and historical subjects, genre scenes and biblical themes. He won one of three first prizes in the 1843 competition for the new decorations at the Palace of Westminster, for which he painted several frescoes. He was later Professor of Painting at the Royal Academy and examiner in painting for the South Kensington Schools of Art. |
| Historical context | The Museum played an important part in the revival of mosaic in Britain in the 19th century. The technique goes back to ancient times and was always regarded as one of the most precious and long-lasting techniques for adorning walls and floors. The enormous costs of mosaics limited its success in the 19th century. The early mosaics for the South Court were made using the traditional material glass. They were created by the Venetian company Salviati & Co., the most successful mosaic makers of the time who had branches in London and New York. The majority of the mosaics consist of vitrified ceramics which were provided by the English company Minton, Hollins & Co. The Mosaics were made by the Mosaic Class of the Art School of the South Kensington Museum and were supervised by a representative of Minton. Amongst the students were family members of Henry Cole. A second, less ambitious series of mosaics was created for the north cloister between 1868 and 1874. In 1878 a ceramic mosaic memorial for Sir Henry Cole, designed by Frank Moody was installed on the first landing of the Ceramic Staircase and is still in place today. The use of mosaic at the museum also included marble mosaic floors, some of them laid by 'Female Convicts' of Woking Prison from 1869 and was dubbed Opus Criminale by contemporaries. |
| Production | Made by Letitia M. Cole, a member of Henry Cole's family, and Samuel Cooper superintended by William E. Alldridge for Minton, Hollins & Co. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This picture depicting Fra Angelico is part of a cycle of monumental mosaic portraits depicting famous artists. The series of originally 35 mosaics was created between 1864 and circa 1875 for the South Court of the South Kensington Museum, the later V&A. The mosaics were originally installed on the side walls as part of a decorative scheme celebrating the arts. The mosaic is made after a painting by Charles West Cope R.A. (1811-90). One of the principal painters of the Early Renaissance in Florence, Frate Giovanni da Fiesole (ca.1400-1455), was better known as Fra Angelico. As a Domincan monk, Fra Angelico treated only religious subjects. His tempera paintings are distinguished by their pure and brilliant colour and their complex treatment of space and form. His most famous work is a cycle of frescoes which he painted after 1436 in the Domincan friary of San Marco, Florence. The lilies, on the left, are a traditional symbol of chastity, for that reason associated with the Annunciation, a subject often painted by Fra Angelico. The lily is also the attribute of St. Dominic, the founder of Fra Angelico's Order. Fra Angelico is depicted holding painting equipment and looking up to heaven, implying that his work is divinely inspired. The series of mostly idealised portraits against gold backgrounds soon became known by the public as the Kensington Valhalla. The term alludes to the Vallhall as eternal home of heroes in Norse mythology. It also refers to the concept of a reunion of outstanding personalities of different periods by the means of art. An earlier example of such a hall of fame is the Walhalla near Regensburg in Germany (opened in 1842). The selection of the Kensington Valhalla includes many famous artists, from Phidias and Apelles as representatives of ancient Greece to contemporaries such as the Irish painter William Mulready who had died only five years before his mosaic was completed. Mosaics played an important part in the canon of materials and techniques used for the interior decoration of the new South Kensington Museum. The ambitious project of a revival of the art of mosaics involved one of the major Venetian mosaic companies of the time, Salviati & Co. It also led to the innovation of the technique by the introduction of vitrified ceramics mosaics made by Minton, Hollins & Co. These ceramics mosaics were created following the cartoons of professional artists by female students, including members of the family of Henry Cole. The Kensington Valhalla remained in place until 1949. Some of the mosaics are now on display in other galleries of the museum. In addition to the mosaics themselves, preparatory sketches and cartoons by established contemporary artists such as Edward Poynter or Lord Leighton are part of the V&A collection. |
| Associated object | 1142-1868 (Design) |
| Bibliographic reference | Physick, John. The Victoria and Albert Museum. The history of its building. London: The Victoria & Albert Museum 1982. Pp. 62-67, no. 9. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.11-2009 |
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| Record created | October 8, 2009 |
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