Fra Angelico: The Martyrdom of St. Cosmas and St. Damian

The Martyrdom of St. Cosmas and St. Damian (predella of the San Marco altarpiece, c. 1440)

• Date: c. 1440

  
  

• Medium: Tempera on panel

  
  

• Location: Predella panel from the San Marco Altarpiece, now in the Museo di San Marco, Florence, Italy

  
  

• Description:

  
  

  This panel depicts the execution of the twin saints, Cosmas and Damian, who are beheaded by a swordsman on a rural path. The background features rolling hills, medieval towers, and cypress trees, typical of Tuscan landscapes. On the left, onlookers and soldiers observe the execution, while the executioner is shown mid-strike on the right. The scene is marked by vivid reds, delicate golden halos, and a solemn sense of martyrdom.

  
  
  
  

Style: Fra Angelico’s composition balances narrative clarity and tender spirituality, with carefully rendered expressions and landscape.

To see the complete unit on Fra Angelico Picture Study, please visit:

https://everythingisgodsgift.blogspot.com/2025/07/discovering-grace-through-art-of-fra.html