A new Fra Angelico next door to Blackfriars?

The Ashmolean Museum, a near neighbour to Blackfriars Oxford, is entering the final days of a campaign to save an Angelico icon for the nation.

Oxford University’s museum, the Ashmolean, is currently fundraising in a bid to prevent the export of a Fra Angelico icon of the Crucifixion. When key works of art are purchased by overseas buyers, British museums are given an opportunity to put in a rival bid to secure the item for the nation. The UK government has barred its export until 29 October to give the Ashmolean time to raise the £4.48 million necessary to keep this rare and important work for public display in this country.

At the request of the Ashmolean, Blackfriars is pleased to publicise this fundraising bid, and the related plan to make it a central part of a reordering of their picture gallery, details of which can be found on the Ashmolean website.

As most readers will be aware, Fra Angelico was a Dominican friar, so adding this early work by him (1420s) to the existing Fra Angelico in the museum (1450s) would be a beautiful opportunity for Dominicans and others to reflect upon this friar’s stunning achievements for the glory of God.