Artwork
Saint Andrew
Saint Andrew is a tempera painting by the Sienese School artist Simone Martini. It dates from 1326 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A long-haired, bearded man in a white robe over a blue undergarment holds a red book with gold accents and a black strap. Simone Martini sets him against gold with a halo behind his head, marking him as a religious figure. Painted in tempera in 1326.
Subject & Meaning
As a piece of religious art, the image focuses entirely on this biblical figure, presenting him as a recognized holy person within the Christian tradition.
The painting depicts Andrew the Apostle, identified as a man and saint, serving as the main subject of Simone Martini's 1326 work. As a piece of religious art, the image focuses entirely on this biblical figure, presenting him as a recognized holy person within the Christian tradition. The depiction aligns with the genre of religious imagery, where the specific identity of the apostle is central to the work's meaning.
Created in tempera on panel, the artwork functions as a devotional representation of Saint Andrew, emphasizing his status as a saint rather than including broader narrative scenes or additional symbolic elements beyond his inherent identity as an apostle.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1326, Saint Andrew is a tempera painting on panel by Simone Martini, reflecting the refined Sienese technique of the period. The medium, egg-based tempera, yields a luminous, jewel-like surface typical of early fourteenth-century Italian panel painting, with fine brushwork and delicate modeling of the saint’s features and drapery folds. The panel’s modest scale (57.2 cm × 37.8 cm) favors intimate, devotional viewing, while the restrained palette and linear elegance align with Martini’s mature style, characterized by graceful contours and a restrained emotional tone.
History & Provenance
Simone Martini created the tempera-on-panel painting Saint Andrew in 1326. The work depicts the Apostle Andrew and is classified as religious art. While the specific original commissioning patron is not detailed in the provided records, the painting currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, United States, and measures 57.2 cm in height by 37.8 cm in width.
The available sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for the piece, nor do they document its exhibition history or the chain of custody from the artist to the museum.
Context
Simone Martini’s 1326 panel of Saint Andrew, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the refined linearism and devotional nuance of early 14th‑century Sienese painting. Scholars situate the work within Martini’s broader corpus of altarpieces and frescoes, noting its role in the development of the International Gothic style and its influence on later Tuscan artists. Critical assessments praise the composition’s elegant drapery and the saint’s expressive presence, interpreting the piece as a meditation on martyrdom that aligns with contemporary Franciscan devotion.
The painting’s provenance, material execution in tempera on panel, and iconographic focus on Andrew the Apostle have been documented, reinforcing its significance in the narrative of Italian medieval art.
Overview
Simone Martini's tempera painting, Saint Andrew, created in 1326, depicts a solitary religious figure. This work is currently housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting showcases the artist's characteristic approach to devotional imagery, presenting the apostle with distinct attributes against a shimmering gold ground, reflecting the artistic conventions of the early 14th century.
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