A Bishop (Donatus?) and a Female Martyr (Antilla?)
- Artist: Jacopo di Antonio (Master of Pratovecchio?)
- Date: about 1450?
- Medium: egg tempera on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Bishop (Donatus?) and a Female Martyr (Antilla?)" by Jacopo di Antonio. Painted in about 1450, it's likely part of a larger polyptych altarpiece for the church of San Giovanni Evangelista in Pratovecchio, Tuscany. The saints depicted are probably Saint Donatus, first bishop of Arezzo, and Saint Antilla, patron of Montepulciano.
These figures would have been arranged in tiers, with the most important scene - likely the Assumption of the Virgin - at the center. This traditional form was still popular in provincial Italy during this period. The inclusion of these saints reflects the close ties between the nunnery of San Giovanni and Arezzo, where a sister house was located.
The painting is done in egg tempera on wood, a common medium for altarpieces at this time.
See it in person
A Bishop (Donatus?) and a Female Martyr (Antilla?) hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
