Light from Light: The Life and Art of Blessed Fra Angelico

Podcast: Download

SSA045: Fra Angelico’s paintings are more than masterpieces—they are acts of prayer. In this episode, Alix Murray and Kathryn Laffrey reflect on the life and work of Blessed Fra Angelico, a Dominican friar whose holiness and intellect shaped some of the most luminous sacred art in Western history.

The discussion centers on how Fra Angelico’s spiritual life informed his artistic choices: color used as theology, composition as contemplation, and beauty as a pathway to God. Drawing on insights from Vasari and close readings of altarpieces, frescoes, and manuscripts, the hosts consider why his work still invites silence, reverence, and prayer centuries later.

Key moments include reflections on his Marian devotion, the emotional intensity of his Crucifixion scenes, and the unique Dominican understanding of contemplation as thoughtful meditation. The episode also raises a timeless question for artists and viewers alike: does sacred art demand holiness from the one who creates it, or does beauty itself carry grace?

Rather than focusing on drama or scandal, this conversation highlights Fra Angelico’s gentleness, humility, and unwavering dedication to making art that leads the soul upward. It’s a meditation on beauty, faith, and the enduring power of sacred images to shape how we see God—and ourselves.

Get all new episodes automatically and for free:

Follow by Email | Watch this episode and subscribe on YouTube.

Help us continue to offer The Secrets of Sacred Art. Won’t you make a pledge at SQPN.com/give today?

Links for this episode:

Want to Sponsor A Show?
Support StarQuest’s mission to explore the intersection of faith and pop culture by becoming a named sponsor of the show of your choice on the StarQuest network. Click to get started or find out more.

by
Sacred Art 1-300 Secrets of Sacred Art