Fra’ Filippo Lippi (1406-1469)

Fra’ Filippo Lippi, also called Lippo Lippi, was an Italian painter of the Italian Quattrocento (15th century) school. Orphaned at an early age, he was left at a Carmelite convent, where he grew up and pronounced vows in 1421. In the evolution of the Renaissance Fra Filippo played a part of the utmost importance. His naturalism tempered by artistic feeling inspired the most beautiful masterpieces; and as his early and descriptive paintings were to be the inspiration of Benozzo Gozzoli, so the author of the frescoes of Prato and Spoleto was to inspire Ghirlandajo and Botticelli.

(From the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia)