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Michele Giambono, 'A Saint with a Book', mid-15th century

About the work

Overview

A bearded saint in rich red and blue robes holds an open book. His halo, now rather worn, was burnished gold incised with decorative patterns; the edges and lining of his cloak, his sleeves and his neckline glimmer with touches of gold. His book with its fluttering pages has a dark green binding and gilded fore-edges. We are not sure who he is, though he might well be Saint Mark, who was traditionally shown with a dark beard and curly dark hair.

This panel seems to have come from the upper tier of a polyptych (a multi-panelled altarpiece) painted by the Venetian artist Michele Giambono. A number of other figures, both full and half length, against blue backgrounds and apparently from the same altarpiece, survive in collections around the world. The wavy line of darker blue which runs around the figure shows where the gilded frame would have been.

Key facts

Details

Full title
A Saint with a Book
Artist dates
active 1420 - 1462
Date made
mid-15th century
Medium and support
egg tempera on wood
Dimensions
38.5 × 28.5 cm
Acquisition credit
Mond Bequest, 1924
Inventory number
NG3917
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the ÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â Library.

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