Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian Crucified and Stoned - Fra Angelico

A detailed reproduction of Fra Angelico's predella panel depicting the martyrdom of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, executed in tempera during the early Renaissance.

This panel is part of the predella for the San Marco Altarpiece, commissioned by Cosimo de' Medici for the convent of San Marco in Florence. Fra Angelico depicts the martyrdom of the twin saints, Cosmas and Damian, who were physicians and early Christian martyrs. The composition is divided into two distinct zones of action. In the upper register, the two saints are shown crucified, while their brothers are depicted standing below, awaiting their own execution. The scene is populated by archers and stone-throwers, capturing the chaotic nature of the persecution.

Fra Angelico employs a clear, narrative style characteristic of his work during the 1430s. The figures are arranged across a grassy foreground, with a low wall separating the immediate action from the distant, rolling hills. The use of tempera allows for precise detail in the clothing of the executioners, who are dressed in contemporary fifteenth-century Florentine attire. This choice of dress serves to bridge the gap between the historical event and the viewer's own time. The golden halos provide a visual anchor for the saints, contrasting with the muted, earthy tones of the landscape and the more saturated colours of the soldiers' garments.

As a master of the Early Renaissance, Fra Angelico balances the emotional weight of the martyrdom with a structured, orderly composition. The perspective is relatively shallow, typical of predella panels intended for close viewing at the base of a larger altarpiece. The work demonstrates the artist's ability to manage complex multi-figure scenes while maintaining clarity of form and narrative intent. This print captures the fine brushwork and the specific colour palette of the original tempera, offering a clear view of the theological and historical storytelling that defined the San Marco commission.