BGSU art history professor participates in 15th-century exhibition in the art capital of the world

Dr. Allie Terry-Fritsch spent the past three years curating the manuscript section of the Fra Angelico exhibition at the Museo di San Marco and Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy

By Branden Ferguson

Dr. Allie Terry-Fritsch, an expert on 15th-century Florentine art and a professor of art history at Bowling Green State University, recently seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: contributing to the prestigious Fra Angelico exhibition that is on display through January 2026 at the Museo di San Marco and Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, Italy.

"The opportunity to play a role in the Fra Angelico exhibition is a highlight of my career and a dream come true," said Terry-Fritsch. "I'm incredibly thankful that chief curator, Carl Strehlke, recognized the value of my research to Angelico studies and invited me to participate in the exhibition."

The groundbreaking exhibition brings together more than 140 works from 70 different institutions, showcasing the innovative visual strategies of Fra Angelico, one of the most influential artists of the Renaissance. His works, often described as "visual sermons," combine vivid renderings of saints and biblical scenes with a profound understanding of the material world, inviting viewers to contemplate the divine. The exhibition has been hailed as one of the most important exhibitions of the year and will shape the study of Fra Angelico for generations to come.

For her contribution, Terry-Fritsch worked with original manuscripts from the 15th-century library of San Marco, aiming to highlight the covent's unparalleled collection of ancient, theological, scientific and artistic texts and reconstruct the spaces where Angelico and others once studied. Her goal was to help visitors grasp the intellectual and spiritual context of the artworks.

"The challenge of my section of the exhibition was to select only a small sample of manuscripts from what was once considered the largest and greatest humanistic collection of books in Italy," said Terry-Fritsch. "I went through hundreds of extant manuscripts to identify those with illuminations, significant handwriting or marginalia that viewers would find interesting as well as show the breadth of topics included in the library.

"The process took three years to complete and multiple trips to Florence, where I spent many hours each day with the manuscripts in the archives. While challenging, the experience was a privilege and a joy."

Terry-Fritsch noted that curating an exhibition is very different from writing academic papers or books. Unlike scholarly publications, exhibitions must engage a broad and diverse audience, focusing on the sensory and emotional impact of the works themselves.

To help her students grasp this concept, she has drawn on her own experiences – including her recent curatorial role in Florence – to guide them in staging their own exhibition at BGSU this fall semester.

"I am teaching my students the ins and outs of curating their own exhibition at BGSU in the University Galleries," said Terry-Fritsch. "Their show, titled 'Italy in the Artist's Imagination,' will feature nearly 90 works from the BGSU University galleries collection and contemporary works by BGSU artists."

The students' exhibition will open on Nov. 21 in the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery and is free and open to the public. 

As for the Fra Angelico exhibition, Terry-Fritsch plans to return to Florence in January and dedicate herself to an in-depth, on-site study of Angelico's works.

"I was able to travel to Florence for a few days to attend the exhibition's opening events, but I look forward to returning so I can truly examine the paintings brought together for the exhibition, especially those works that I will most likely never have the chance to view in person again."