After class this morning I joined the Artemisia group course on Fra Angelico. This is the same group I went with on the Piero della Francesca course in 2024.

In joining the group I’m also staying with them at Hotel Palazzo Guadagni which is on Piazza Santo Spirito. I’ll get a bigger bedroom and breakfast buffet for four days.

I also have a partial view of the top of Palazzo Pitti

After a bite of lunch (pasta with tomato and pesto), we went for a walk to discuss the layout of Florence’s former Roman origins and the significance of Orsan Michele. In particular, the economic success and status shown by the guilds commissioning statues from artists who were geniuses: Ghiberti, Donatello, Verrocchio and others. The statues reflect the “rediscovery” of classical (ancient Greek and Roman) style. The origins of the Renaissance can all be found in Orsan Michele.

We then went into Santa Trinita to look at Ghirlandaio who was post Fra Angelico but his frescoes show what Florence looked like at the specific location of Santa Trinita during the Renaissance.

The church also has a photo of the Lorenzo Monaco altarpiece which is in the exhibition.

The hotel is known for its loggia, the covered terrace area, where you can have a drink.