In 1439 Fra Angelico completed one of his most famous works, the San Marco Altarpiece at Florence. It broke new ground. Not unusual had been images of the enthroned Madonna and Child surrounded by saints, the custom was that the setting looked heaven-like, saints and angels hovering as ethereal presences rather than earthly substance. But in the San Marco Altarpiece, the saints stand squarely within the space, grouped in a natural way as if conversing about their shared witness of the Virgin in glory. This fresh genre, Sacred Conversations, was to underlie major commissions of Giovanni Bellini, Perugino and Raphael.Frederick Hartt, A History of Italian Renaissance Art, (1970) Thames & Hudson,
in 1439 fra angelico completed one of his most famous works the san marco altarpiece at florence it broke new ground not unusual had been images of the enthroned madonna and child surrounded by saints the custom was that the setting looked heaven-like saints and angels hovering as ethereal presences rather than earthly substance but in the san marco altarpiece the saints stand squarely within the space grouped in a natural way as if conversing about their shared witness of the virgin in glory this fresh genre sacred conversations was to underlie major commissions of giovanni bellini perugino and raphaelfrederick hartt a history of italian renaissance art (1970) thames & hudson