The Documentary Podcast Carl Brandon Strehlke: My search for the 15th Century artist Beato Angelico
Oct 20, 2025
Carl Brandon Strehlke, an art historian and expert on Fra Angelico, shares his passionate journey in reuniting the painter's dispersed altarpieces for a historic exhibition in Florence. He discusses the emotional impact of seeing restored masterpieces and the innovative technologies that revealed vibrant, hidden colors. Carl also reflects on his deep connection with Angelico's work, particularly how the artist's intimate frescos enriched the spiritual lives of the friars. This project combines art conservation with a celebration of the artist's enduring humanity.
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Reuniting A Scattered Masterpiece
- Fra Angelico's work balances dramatic movement with intimate stillness that feels timeless.
- Carl Brandon Strehlke calls this exhibition a once-in-a-lifetime reunification of scattered masterpieces.
A Personal First Encounter
- Carl first fell in love with Fra Angelico's San Marco frescos while visiting in the 1970s.
- He values seeing paintings in their original monastic context rather than removed to a museum.
The Napoleonic Breakup Puzzle
- Napoleonic suppressions scattered altarpieces from their original sites across many museums.
- The exhibition aims to reunite these fragments and reconstruct the original altarpieces.