Saint John the Evangelist
ca. 1320
Medium
Tempera on wood, gold ground
Dimensions
Overall, with engaged (largely modern) frame, 35 x 22 in. (88.9 x 55.9 cm); painted surface 27 1/4 x 16 1/2 in. (69.2 x 41.9 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George Blumenthal, 1941
Accession Number
41.100.22
Tags
Art Historical Context
Segna di Buonaventura *Saint John the Evangelist created around 1320, exemplifies the luminous elegance of early Sienese painting during the Trecento period. This tempera-on-wood panel, with its shimmering gold ground, depicts the beloved disciple and author of the Gospel, in a hieratic pose that invites contemplation. The saint's flowing robes and serene expression reflect the Gothic grace characteristic of Siena's artistic golden age, influenced by masters like Duccio di Buoninsegna, under whom Segna likely trained. The gold leaf background, meticulously burnished for a radiant glow, was a ...