Domenico di Michelino

Domenico di Michelino (1417–1491) was an Italian painter of the Florentine school and a follower of the style of Fra Angelico. He was born and died in Florence.

La commedia illumina Firenze on the wall of Florence Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore

Michelino predominantly painted scenes from the Bible. His most famous work can be found on the west wall of Florence's "Duomo" (cathedral) Santa Maria del Fiore, including La commedia illumina Firenze ("The Comedy Illuminating Florence"), showing Dante Alighieri and the Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy). Along with Dante and the city of Florence, the work depicts Hell, Mount Purgatory, the earthly Paradise (with Adam and Eve) and the celestial spheres. It has been suggested that Michelino's painting of Dante (pictured here) was inspired by the illumination for Paradiso 17 by Giovanni di Paolo in one of the finest handmade copies of Dante's Divine Comedy ever to have been produced, the Yates Thompson Manuscript 36 (1444-c.1450; British Library, London); when this particular miniature (f.159r) is reversed, there is a corresponding placement of the Duomo, the gates of Florence, the expelled poet, Mount Purgatory, and an uphill path leading out of the picture.[1]

He took his name from his teacher, a carver in bone and ivory named Michelino. He was elected to the Compagnia di San Luca (painter's guild) in 1442 and joined the Arte dei Medici e degli Speziali in 1444.

References
  1. Jelbert, Rebecca: 'Aping the Masters?: Michelangelo and the Laocoön Group.' Journal of Art Crime, issue 22 (Fall/ Winter 2019), pp.9 and 14-15, figures 9-11.

Sources
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