Saint Dominic
- Artist: Filippo Lippi
- Date: (circa) 1460
- Medium: tempera on panel
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the "Saint Dominic" by Filippo Lippi, painted around 1460 in tempera on panel. The composition follows a classic Florentine devotional layout, with the saint in a simple, serene pose. Lippi, a master of delicate color and subtle modeling, uses a restrained palette of earth tones and muted blues to convey spiritual calm. The saint is depicted with the distinctive white habit of the Dominican order and a small crucifix in his hand, signifying his vow of humility. The background is a shallow architectural space, hinting at a chapel, and is rendered with delicate linear perspective. Lippi’s brushwork shows a mastery of chiaroscuro even within the limitations of tempera; he creates depth by layering thin glazes. The face of Saint Dominic is calm, with gentle eyes that seem to look beyond the canvas, inviting the viewer into a quiet meditation. The work exemplifies Lippi’s transition from the more decorative style of his early years toward a greater focus on naturalism, a hallmark of the early Renaissance. Though modest in size, the painting carries a powerful spiritual resonance that has captivated viewers for centuries.
See it in person
Saint Dominic 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.
