Brancacci Chapel, Renaissance chapel in Oltrarno, Italy
The Brancacci Chapel is a worship space inside the Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine in the Oltrarno district of Florence, featuring biblical wall paintings on two levels. The frescoes cover three walls of the rectangular room and form a continuous visual cycle with multiple scenes stacked above each other.
Felice Brancacci commissioned Masolino and his younger colleague Masaccio in 1424 to paint the room for his family. Filippino Lippi completed the unfinished sections about 60 years later in the 1480s.
The paintings show scenes from the life of Saint Peter, with faces in the crowds often portraying Florentine citizens of the 15th century. Visitors notice the depiction of everyday clothing and gestures of that time within the biblical scenes.
Access is through the monastery cloister of the basilica, with advance booking required. Each visit lasts about 30 minutes and takes place in small groups.
The paintings survived the devastating fire of 1771 that destroyed large parts of the basilica because they were located in a separate area behind a wall. A comprehensive restoration in the 1980s removed centuries of soot and candle smoke, revealing the original colors.
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