Four predella panels
- Artist: Filippo Lippi
- Date: (circa) 1460
- Medium: tempera on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "Four predella panels" by Filippo Lippi, painted around 1460. The work is a tempera on panel, a medium that allowed Lippi to achieve delicate color transitions and a luminous quality. In the panel, you’ll notice the subtle use of light and shadow, which frames the narrative scenes. The composition is divided into four distinct but thematically linked scenes, each contributing to the overall devotional message. Lippi’s mastery of linear perspective guides the eye through the scenes, while his gentle, almost lyrical brushwork gives the figures a serene presence. The tempera technique, with its quick‑drying nature, required meticulous layering—an approach evident in the fine detailing of fabrics and architectural elements. Though the panels were originally part of a larger altarpiece, they stand alone as a compelling visual story, reflecting both the spiritual devotion of the time and Lippi’s evolving artistic language.
See it in person
Four predella panels hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
