Artwork
Wings of a Triptych with Saints Christopher, Francis, Jerome, Anthony
Wings of a Triptych with Saints Christopher, Francis, Jerome, Anthony is an oil painting. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The wings of this triptych present four Catholic saints as devotional figures, each identifiable through traditional iconographic attributes.
The wings of this triptych present four Catholic saints as devotional figures, each identifiable through traditional iconographic attributes. Francis of Assisi appears in the habit of his mendicant order, while Anthony of Padua is likewise shown in Franciscan dress. Jerome, the Doctor of the Church traditionally associated with scholarship and translation of the Bible, is depicted as a bearded elder.
Saint Christopher, the legendary giant who carried the Christ Child across a river, is also represented. Together these four saints span the contemplative, scholarly, and protective functions of late-medieval devotion: Francis and Anthony represent Franciscan piety, Jerome embodies learned Christianity, and Christopher serves as a popular intercessor for travelers.
The pairing of these saints on a triptych's wings suggests a program intended for private veneration, with the figures flanking a now-lost or separate central panel. The selection reflects the devotional priorities of early sixteenth-century Bruges, where Franciscan devotion remained strong and Saint Christopher enjoyed widespread popularity as a protector.
Technique & Style
Created in 1510, this work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The painting measures 37.5 cm in height and 21.5 cm in width. Stylistically, the piece functions as religious art, depicting four specific saints: Christopher, Francis of Assisi, Jerome, and Anthony of Padua, alongside a generic male figure.
These panels originally served as the wings of a larger triptych structure. The composition reflects the conventions of Early Netherlandish religious imagery through its specific iconographic selection and medium.
History & Provenance
The wings of the triptych depicting Saints Christopher, Francis, Jerome, and Anthony were created in 1510 in oil paint on panel, attributed to Gerard David. The work was at one point owned by Charles Butler, and later passed into the collection of James Simon before entering the holdings of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it is currently housed. The painting has also been included in the exhibition history of the Exposition des primitifs flamands à Bruges, reflecting its recognized status among early Netherlandish works.
The panel measures 37.5 cm in height by 21.5 cm in width, consistent with its function as the wings of a small devotional triptych.
Overview
The work is an oil painting forming the wing of a triptych that depicts four male figures, each dressed in distinct, historically styled garments. From left to right a robust figure in a red cloak carries a staff beside a child; a brown‑hooded monk stands with folded hands; a red‑robed monk holds a cross, reads a book, and has a lion at his feet; and an elderly bearded man in a brown robe walks beside a tree.
Context
As a wing of a larger triptych, the panel would have been displayed alongside a central image, possibly a crucifixion or Madonna, forming a devotional ensemble for a chapel or private altar. The medieval‑inspired attire and iconography reflect a period when saints were invoked for protection during journeys and scholarly pursuits.
Artist & collection
- Triptiek van de heilige Antonius van Padua
São Bernardino de Siena e Santo António
Saint Anthony of Padua
Saint Bernardino of Siena
San Bernardo
Saint Anthony Abbot and Saint Bernardino of Siena
São Jerónimo entrega o hábito a Santa Eustóquia com Santa Paula
Saint Anthony of Padua
São Francisco recebe os Estigmas
Saint Francis and a Bishop Saint
Two male saints
Saint Bernardino of Siena
