Fra Lippo Lippi Freedom and Confinement Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #4

Do you feel thankful, ay or no,
For this fair town's face, yonder river's line,
The mountain round it and the sky above,
Much more the figures of man, woman, child,
These are the frame to? (286-290)

Lippo's artistic imagination allows him some level of freedom from his monastery and his vows. He can imaginatively explore worldly places and subjects in his art, which gives him at least the fantasy of escape. Check out how he describes these scenes as if they are already works of art: "figures" and "frame."

Quote #5

Well, all these
Secured at their devotion, up shall come
Out of a corner when you least expect,
As one by a dark stair into a great light,
Music and talking, who but Lippo! (359-363)

Lippo literally paints himself into a corner of his masterpiece, "The Coronation of the Virgin," which he is planning out right now. While this seems like a moment of confinement, it's actually symbolizes freedom, since he's subversively adding in some realism (secretly inserting himself) into what appears to be an otherwise highly conventional painting that would make the Prior proud. Go, Lippo!