“Bonfire of the Vanities” in Florence Italy in 1497 and the San Marco Convent

San Marco Convent (1440) is the former monastery of the Dominicans in Florence, Italy. It was commissioned by Cosimo the Elder Medici.  The history of the cloisters, dormitories and cells is linked to Fra Angelico, Fra Bartolomeo and contoversial Friar Girolamo Savonarola. Friar Girolamo Savonarola was the Prior of the convent. The convent is a museum now. During the 15th century, it was the home of two famous Dominicans: the painter Fra Angelico and the preacher, Girolamo Savonarola. The convent’s library was built by Michelozzo. It has a famous collection of manuscripts.   Fra Angelico, Annunciation at the top of the stairs   The convent contains most of Fra Angelico’s work since he spent most of his life at San Marco. Two of may favorites are: “Last Judgment” (1432-35) and “The Annunciation” (1450). The annunciation is at the top of the stairs in San Marco.

Girolamo Savonarola (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Annunciation, painted by Fra Angelico (1387-1455) (Florence) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Fra Bartolomeo’s portrait of “Savonarola” is shown in this post and is located in the Museum of San Marco. Girolamo Savonarola was an eloquent and persuasive Dominican priest and the perpetrator of a “Bonfire of the Vanities” in the Piazza della Signoria. c. 1437-1446 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) He used his puritanical influence to denounce decadent objects including art and books and encouraged Florentine residents to torch immoral objects that led to moral corruption. This was before the days of Sarbannes-Oxley and Enron. Plaque commemorating the spot where Girolamo Savonarola was executed in the Piazza Della Signoria, Florence. The theocratic leader with an aversion for evil and dishonesty was ultimately hanged and burned in 1498 in Piazza della Signoria. There is a plaque commemorating this spot in Piazza Della Signoria. La Predica di Savonarola (Photo credit: Morkai79) View at Piazza della Signoria from the front balcony of Palazzo Vecchio, in Florence (Photo credit: Wikipedia) This is a great Vino con Vista Site in Florence. When you admire his portrait in the Dominican convent of San Marco that was painted by Fra Bartolomeo in 1498 look at the Latin inscription. It says: “Portrait of the Prophet Jerome of Ferrara, sent by God.” Monument to Girolamo Savonarola in Piazza Savonarola, Florence, Italy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Dr. Eveann Lovero writes Travel Guides to Italy and Vino Con Vista Travel Guides can be purchased at these sites.  To learn more about Italian art and history visit www.vino-con-vista.com