Retable of Saints Athanasius, Blaise, and Agatha
1440
tempera
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1440
tempera
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
This painting shows three saints standing side by side on a gold background. Their robes are deep red, green, and white with gold trim. The halos glow behind their heads. It’s painted in tempera, a mix of egg yolk and pigment. Tempera dries fast, so artists worked in tiny brush strokes. You can see the careful lines in the saints’ faces. Look for how the gold background flattens the scene instead of showing depth. The colors stay bright after 600 years. Check out the technique called tempera at the Art Institute of Chicago.
![Madonna and Child Enthroned with Four Saints and Eighteen Angels [middle panel]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/24dd12ad513d60ea/thumb.webp)
