Saint Ansanus
ca. 1326
Medium
Tempera on wood, gold ground
Dimensions
22 5/8 in. × 15 in. (57.5 × 38.1 cm) Framed: 26 5/8 in. × 18 7/8 in. × 2 in. (67.6 × 47.9 × 5.1 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.13
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the radiant glow of Simone Martini'sSaint Ansanus* (. 1326), encounter a masterful example of Sienese Gothic painting. Created as a tempera on wood with a shimmering gold ground, this intimate panel (22 5/8 × 15 in.) portrays city's patron saint, a young martyr from the 3rd century who faced execution under Emperor Dioclet. Martini, a leading figure of the Sienese school Duccio, crafted this work during Siena's golden age, when civic pride intertwined with deep religious devotion. Martini's elegant style shines through in the saint's graceful pose, delicate features, and flowing robes, hal...