Fresco cycle in the Prato Cathedral (1452-66)

The frescoes in the choir of the Cathedral in Prato represent a long drawn-out but major effort by the master, and they seem to have been produced slowly and sporadically between 1452 and 1466. The enormous scale of the choir and consequently the painted subjects, a far cry from the intimate frescoes of the Brancacci Chapel, must be taken into account for an effective evaluation. The cycle has been restored recently, revealing powerful yet sensitive images produced with verve and facility during a late period in Lippi's development.

The Prato frescoes were both an artistic and a physical challenge for the aging painter, and, particularly in the large scenes on either side of the choir with stories of St John the Baptist and St Stephen, an ample share of the execution may be attributed to workshop assistants.