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Gaudenzio Ferrari, 'Saint Andrew (?)', about 1540

Key facts
Full title Saint Andrew (?)
Artist Gaudenzio Ferrari
Artist dates active 1508; died 1546
Series Two Panels from a High Altarpiece from Maggianico
Date made about 1540
Medium and support oil on wood
Dimensions 150.5 × 84.5 cm
Acquisition credit Mond Bequest, 1924
Inventory number NG3925
Location Not on display
Collection Main Collection
Saint Andrew (?)
Gaudenzio Ferrari
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A saint, almost certainly Andrew, stands on a hillock in a mountainous landscape. On his right shoulder he supports the cross on which he was crucified. Andrew’s cross is usually depicted as an X-shaped saltire, but here it is T-shaped. Andrew had insisted that the cross on which he was to be martyred should not resemble that of Christ.

This painting was one of the panels of the high altarpiece from the church of S. Pietro at Maggianico, near Lecco, on the shore of Lake Como.It was in the centre of the lower part of the altarpiece with Saints Peter, Bernard, Ambrose and Anthony at its sides. Christ rising from the Tomb (also in the National Gallery collection), was the central panel of the altarpiece; it was flanked by Saint Roch and Saint Christopher carrying the infant Christ. The lowest row of panels (known as the predella), now in the Castello Sforzesco, Milan, is monochrome and depicts scenes of Christ and the apostles.

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Two Panels from a High Altarpiece from Maggianico

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Christ rising from the Tomb and Saint Andrew (?) were parts of the high altarpiece painted in about 1540 for the church of S. Pietro at Maggianico, near Lecco, on the shore of Lake Como in northern Italy.

Christ rising from the Tomb was the central panel of the altarpiece. Christ’s fluttering white pennant marked with the sign of the Cross symbolises his victory over death.

Originally to the right of Christ rising from the Tomb was a panel showing Saint Roch; on the left was Saint Christopher carrying the infant Christ. A panel almost certainly of Saint Andrew, which is also in the National Gallery’s collection, was in the centre of the lower part of the altarpiece with Saints Peter, Bernard, Ambrose and Anthony at its sides.

The lowest row of panels (known as the predella), now in the Castello Sforzesco, Milan, is monochrome and depicts scenes of Christ and the apostles.