| The Coronation of the Virgin or Marsuppini Coronation was painted in the mid 1440's for the Olivetan monastery of San Bernardo, Arezzo. In the central panel the Virgin kneels before Christ who places the crown upon her head. In the foreground of the two side panels are the two kneeling donors in doctoral robes, Gregorio and Carlo Marsuppini. Behind are two standing saints on each side. Filippo Lippi has here abandoned the traditional Coronation designs to work instead from the latest development in another area with its roots in the triptych with only a few saints depicted. All four saints - tall and with tiny heads - wear the white habit of the Olivetan congregation of Benedictines. The figure on the far left has priestly robes on top of the monastic habit and may be identified as St Gregory by the dove next to his ear - the Holy Spirit that inspired his writing. The two bearded saints are probably St Benedict and Bernard. Although it is not possible to know which is which, we can be fairly sure that one of them is Bernard as the monastery was dedicated to him. The fourth saint, the younger monk on the far right, may be Blessed Bernardo Tolomei, the founder of the Olivetans. Behind the saints are three angels on each side playing musical instruments.
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