For the first time it will be possible to visit and observe from close-up the majestic creation of Filippo Lippi, one of the great masterpieces of Tuscany Renaissance, the frescoes of the Cappella Maggiore of the Duomo in Prato. Restoration stages of the frescoes, which started in year 2000 with the set up of scaffolding and infrastructures, are currently underway.

During this stage, starting in March, you will be able to access through the scaffolding to have a closer look to the various frescoes. Visited guides will allow a maximum of 12 people at a time with obligatory reservation at the offices of Prato's Apt.

Filippo Lippi (1406-1469) was one of the figures who distinguished the pictorial art of the first few years of the Renaissance in Florence. At the beginning of his experience he comes into contact with the creative genius of Masaccio, from whom he acquires the basis of the prospective technique which Masaccio had been experimenting with. Filippo Lippi has had a great influence on Florentine pictorial trends creating works of very high artistic value: "Madonna con Bambino e due angeli" (1455); and the series of frescoes kept in the duomo of Prato "Storie di santo Stefano e di San Giovanni" (1452-1465).

Lippi's frescoes in the Duomo chapel are an essential stage for figurative arts of the four hundreds and for Prato's artistic - historical heritage.  The interventions of restoration of the frescoes depicting the stories of "Santo Stefano e di San Giovanni Battista" are made necessary to make up for many signs of degradation seen in the past few years in 15th century works.

February.2002

Apt Prato
Filippo Lippi Restoration
Prato municipality