The Virgin Mary with the Apostles and Other Saints

Read this panel as a procession, and the Virgin Mary is at its head. She kneels at the end of the top row with her hands raised in prayer, turned toward the risen Christ, who stood in the neighbouring panel when the altarpiece was whole. Close to her is Saint Peter with his keys, and among the apostles Saint Paul carries the sword that recalls his beheading. Further along come popes and bishops in gold-edged mitres. One pope has his name, Silvester, written down the front of his robe. Saint Jerome wears the red hat of a cardinal, an honour painters gave him centuries after his death. In the black and white habit of his own order stands Saint Dominic with a lily. Fra Angelico painted it around 1423 to 1424 for Dominic's friars, at their church of San Domenico in Fiesole.