Saint Apollonia
c. 1455/1460
Medium
tempera on poplar panel
Dimensions
overall: 38.8 × 28 cm (15 1/4 × 11 in.) framed: 56.83 × 46.04 × 8.89 cm (22 3/8 × 18 1/8 × 3 1/2 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CIS-R
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1952.5.19
Art Historical Context
Behold the tranquil portrait of *Saint Apollonia*, attributed to the Renaissance master Piero della Francesca around 1455–1460. This intimate tempera painting on poplar panel, measuring just 38.8 × 28 cm, captures the saint—patroness of dentistry and martyr of the early Christian era—with serene dignity. Piero, a pioneer of the Early Renaissance from Umbria, was renowned for his mathematical precision, luminous color harmonies, and mastery of linear perspective, influences drawn from his studies in geometry and ancient Roman art. Crafted in tempera, an egg-based medium favored for its durabil...