Fra Filippo Lippi was an Italian painter of the early Renaissance. He was born in Florence around 1406. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by an aunt and taken by her to the Carmelite monastery of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence at the age of 8 to be cared for. There he later took his vows and was ordained a priest. The young Lippi was enthusiastic about painting and therefore studied, among other things, the works of the painter Massacio and his style of painting in the neighbouring church. Soon he was painting quite well and the prior of the monastery allowed him to perfect himself further in painting. In the monastery existed some paintings created by him, but they were destroyed in a devastating fire in 1471. Around 1432 the painter left the monastery, but remained a monk and settled in the city. He accepted various commissions, but they did not make him rich. In a surviving letter, he described himself as the "poorest monk in Florence" because he had to feed 6 nieces in addition to himself.
About the life of Fra Filippo in the next years, many wild and unsubstantiated stories exist. For example, he is said to have been captured by pirates and only saved by his painting skills. When he accepted a commission, he is said to have often disobeyed agreements and, for example, to have been imprisoned while doing a job for the Medici, only to finish it in the first place. There is also talk of constant financial difficulties, of fraud, and of lawsuits against him. Nevertheless, he was a gifted painter, and his Madonna paintings are among the most beautiful of the period.
In 1456, the artist was commissioned to paint a large fresco in the choir of the Cathedral of Sanct Stephan in Prato and also a painting for the high altar of the chapel of the nunnery of Santa Margherita in Prato. During this work he met the beautiful novice Lucrezia Buti. Lippi asked her to model the Madonna for him and fell madly in love with her during the sessions. He is said to have kidnapped her from the convent and brought her to his house. Although the nuns of Santa Margherita, as well as her father, tried everything to get her back, Lucrezia stayed with the painter, became his mistress, and gave him a son and a daughter. The son Filippino Lippi later also became a famous painter.
In 1457 Filippo Lippi was appointed rector of San Quirico in Legnaia and this assured him a regular income. He maintained his own workshop and also trained pupils. Among the most famous are SSandro Botticelliand Francesco di Pesello. In 1469 Filippo Lippi died while working on frescoes in Spoleto Cathedral.
Fra Filippo Lippi was an Italian painter of the early Renaissance. He was born in Florence around 1406. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised by an aunt and taken by her to the Carmelite monastery of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence at the age of 8 to be cared for. There he later took his vows and was ordained a priest. The young Lippi was enthusiastic about painting and therefore studied, among other things, the works of the painter Massacio and his style of painting in the neighbouring church. Soon he was painting quite well and the prior of the monastery allowed him to perfect himself further in painting. In the monastery existed some paintings created by him, but they were destroyed in a devastating fire in 1471. Around 1432 the painter left the monastery, but remained a monk and settled in the city. He accepted various commissions, but they did not make him rich. In a surviving letter, he described himself as the "poorest monk in Florence" because he had to feed 6 nieces in addition to himself.
About the life of Fra Filippo in the next years, many wild and unsubstantiated stories exist. For example, he is said to have been captured by pirates and only saved by his painting skills. When he accepted a commission, he is said to have often disobeyed agreements and, for example, to have been imprisoned while doing a job for the Medici, only to finish it in the first place. There is also talk of constant financial difficulties, of fraud, and of lawsuits against him. Nevertheless, he was a gifted painter, and his Madonna paintings are among the most beautiful of the period.
In 1456, the artist was commissioned to paint a large fresco in the choir of the Cathedral of Sanct Stephan in Prato and also a painting for the high altar of the chapel of the nunnery of Santa Margherita in Prato. During this work he met the beautiful novice Lucrezia Buti. Lippi asked her to model the Madonna for him and fell madly in love with her during the sessions. He is said to have kidnapped her from the convent and brought her to his house. Although the nuns of Santa Margherita, as well as her father, tried everything to get her back, Lucrezia stayed with the painter, became his mistress, and gave him a son and a daughter. The son Filippino Lippi later also became a famous painter.
In 1457 Filippo Lippi was appointed rector of San Quirico in Legnaia and this assured him a regular income. He maintained his own workshop and also trained pupils. Among the most famous are SSandro Botticelliand Francesco di Pesello. In 1469 Filippo Lippi died while working on frescoes in Spoleto Cathedral.
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