Copy of famous 1423-4 altarpiece in our cloisters

With all our talk of the organ which is exciting indeed, it is important to remember that it is not the only truly precious component of the fabric of our school. The separate project to clean and restore our cloister paintings is ongoing with fundraising currently focussed on Stage 3, a short section with angels and a copy of Fra Angelico's Annunciation, which is not the image shown above. 

The image here is included because a member of staff visiting the National Gallery at the weekend spotted a tiny Fra Angelico altarpiece and recognised it from another stretch of our cloisters.  The original is only 32cm high and gleaming with gold.  The same image is replicated and hugely enlarged in our cloisters but dirty, scratched and covered in a layer of yellowing varnish. Individual saints can be identiifed within the painting and it will be wonderful to see, after cleaning, how brightly the colours and the gold come up.

We need to tackle our cloister paintings project in stages, and this section, will come later but it is wonderful to have copies of significant artwork lining the cloisters where all our students stroll daily.

The original in the National Gallery is described as follows: Shimmering with gold and glowing with rich colours, these remarkable panels once formed the predella (base) of the high altarpiece of the painter's own convent, San Domenico in Friesole. The altarpiece's central panel remains there.  In the centre of the predella, Christ appears surrounded by angels and the vast company of heaven. The Virgin, Apostles, and other saints gather at the left.  To the right, the forerunners of Christ are joined by Christian martyrs. The outerpost panels show saints and blessed (beati) members of the Dominican Order. 

Donations to our cloister paintings fund can be made through this link to the restoration project page on Connect,  and all proceeds from tickets sales from our Nunnery at Hammersmith talkon Thursday 12 Febrary at 7pm are contributing to this important project.  Do come along if you can.