Saints Matthias and Thomas

Art Historical Context

**Saints Matthias and Thomas**ca. 1350 Bartolomeo Bulgarini (Italian, Sienese, active ca. 1340–73) In the elegant tradition of 14th-century Sien painting, Bartolomeo Bulgarini'sSaints Matthias and Thomas captures the devotional spirit of late Gothic Italy. Created around 1350 using tempera on wood with a shimmering gold ground, this panel exemplifies the refined techniques of the Sienese school, influenced by masters like Simone Martini. The gold leaf background, meticulously punched and tooled, evokes heavenly radiance, drawing the viewer's eye to the saints—Matthias, who replaced Judas among the apostles, and Thomas, the doubting disciple—likely depicted with books symbolizing their teachings and martyrdoms. This intimate work, measuring about 21 x 18 inches, would have served as part of a private altarpiece or polyptych in a chapel or home, reflecting Siena's thriving artistic culture amid the Black Death's shadow. Bulgarini's delicate figures, with their graceful poses and intricate details, highlight the period's emphasis on spiritual beauty and narrative clarity. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Robert Lehman Collection, it offers a window into medieval piety, where saints interceded for the faithful in turbulent times.