Niccoline Chapel

The Niccoline Chapel was the private chapel of Nicholas V, and Fra Angelico painted it between 1447 and 1451 with two cycles, the lives of Saint Stephen above and Saint Lawrence below, set in architectural settings of great clarity and colour. It is small, high and intensely worked. It is not on the standard museum route and access is restricted, which keeps almost everyone out.

What you actually see

• The Saint Stephen cycle - the upper register of the decoration.
• The Saint Lawrence cycle - the scenes running below it.
• The painted architecture - the constructed settings Angelico placed the figures in.
• The 1447 to 1451 span - four years of work in one small room.

When to go

November to March is the quietest window at the museums generally. Access depends on arrangement rather than season. Openings are occasional and announced.

Honest expectations

This is genuinely difficult to see: it is not on the public route and access requires special arrangement that is rarely available. The room is very small and admits few people. Most visitors will not get in.

Nearby

The Raphael Rooms are nearby, and the Sistine Chapel is south.