Saint Lawrence c.1475-1525
Oil on panel | 29.9 x 23.8 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 406338
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Head and shoulders, facing the spectator, gazing downwards to the left, with a tonsured head, wearing a deacon's coat reticulated gold over red; grey-green background. The saint has no obvious attributes but is dressed as a deacon and is a pair to RCIN 406339, suggesting that he represents one of a pair of sainted deacons; Saint Lawrence or Saint Stephen. The well-rounded style of the head is typical of Bergognone and can also be seen in the two panels ‘Saints Elizabeth and Francis’ and ‘Saints Peter Martyr and Christopher’ (Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan), although in comparison the Royal Collection panels seem simplified, and look like the work of an assistant in Bergognone’s workshop.
Provenance
Acquired by Queen Victoria through Ludwig Gruner from Mr Metzger in Florence in 1846; given to Prince Albert for his birthday, 26th August 1846; recorded in the Prince's Writing Room at Osborne House in 1876 (no 121), where it also appears in James Roberts's watercolour of 1851 (RCIN 926224)
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Creator(s)
(nationality)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Oil on panel
Measurements
29.9 x 23.8 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)
45.8 x 39.5 x 5.0 cm (frame, external)