Zanobi Machiavelli

This panel depicts Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, a thirteenth-century mystic, and an unidentified bishop saint. It formed part of an altarpiece of which at least two other fragments are also in the National Gallery’s collection. It was positioned to the left of a central panel that depicts the Vir...

This panel, which was part of an altarpiece, depicts Saints Bartholomew and Monica standing side by side on an angular step that encloses a patch of grass. At least two other fragments of the same altarpiece are also in the National Gallery’s collection. The central – and largest – panel shows th...

Saint John the Baptist, identified by his camel hair shirt, makes direct eye contact with the viewer. He clutches a scroll, its Latin inscription containing the words he spoke to Christ after baptising him: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1: 29).He is joined...

Saint Mark, one of the four authors of the Gospels, stands on a tilted floor next to Saint Augustine, a fourth-century theologian. A winged lion, the traditional symbol of Saint Mark, can be seen resting at the feet of the saint. Saint Augustine’s richly decorated mitre, crosier and gloves identi...

Two angels with golden wings and jewelled diadems invite us into this painting. They sit on a step, playing a lute and a violin, looking out at us. Behind them rises the Virgin Mary, seated on a stone bench. She supports the infant Christ, who stands on her lap and raises his right hand in blessi...