Crucifixion with Saints Vincent Ferrer, Peter Martyr, Stephen, Catherine of Siena and the Blessed Antonius at the foot of the Cross
- Artist: Attributed toFrancesco di Giovanni Botticini
- Date: (circa) 1474
- Medium: tempera on panel with a partially integral semi-circular frame
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Crucifixion with Saints Vincent Ferrer, Peter Martyr, Stephen, Catherine of Siena and the Blessed Antonius at the foot of the Cross” attributed to Francesco di Giovanni Botticini, created around 1474. The tempera on panel is framed by a partially integral semi‑circular border that gives the composition a gentle, almost architectural enclosure, drawing the eye toward the central crucifixion scene. Botticini’s technique shows a careful layering of colors, a hallmark of early Renaissance tempera work, where the pigments are mixed with egg yolk to achieve a luminous, translucent quality.
The composition places the crucified Christ at the heart of the canvas, his body elongated and serene, a focal point surrounded by a procession of saints. Vincent Ferrer, known for his preaching, stands close to the cross, his face turned toward the divine. Peter Martyr and Stephen appear with gestures of devotion, while Catherine of Siena, a mystic, gazes upward in contemplation. The Blessed Antonius, perhaps a local saint, is positioned near the base, anchoring the earthly realm to the heavenly narrative.
The semi‑circular frame is not merely decorative; it echoes the vaulting of a chapel, suggesting that this panel was intended for a religious setting, possibly a side altar. The combination of precise draftsmanship, subtle color transitions, and the symbolic placement of the saints creates a visual meditation on faith and sacrifice that would have resonated with contemporary viewers in the late 15th century.
See it in person
Crucifixion with Saints Vincent Ferrer, Peter Martyr, Stephen, Catherine of Siena and the Blessed Antonius at the foot of the Cross hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
