Workshop of the Master of the Life of the Virgin, 'Saints Augustine, Hubert, Ludger (?) and Gereon (?)', probably 1485-90
About the work
Overview
This is the outer face of the left-hand shutter of an altarpiece from the Benedictine abbey in Werden, near Cologne. It would have been visible when the shutters were closed over the central part of the altarpiece, which has not been traced. The outer face of the right-hand shutter, which is also in the National Gallery’s collection, is painted with four standing saints.
The inner faces of the shutters show scenes from the life of Saint Hubert, who is also shown here, with two other bishop saints. The miniature stag on the Bible he holds refers to his miraculous vision of Christ, which prompted his conversion. Furthest to the left is Saint Augustine, who holds a heart pierced with an arrow, a symbol of God’s love. Next is Saint Ludger, who founded the abbey at Werden in about 800 and was made Bishop of Münster shortly afterwards. The saint dressed in armour, carrying a banner and a shield, might be Gereon, a Roman soldier who was martyred along with the other members of the so-called Theban Legion.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Saints Augustine, Hubert, Ludger (?) and Gereon (?): Reverse of Left Hand Shutter
- Artist
- Workshop of the Master of the Life of the Virgin
- Artist dates
- active second half of the 15th century
- Part of the series
- Two Shutters from the Werden Altarpiece
- Date made
- probably 1485-90
- Medium and support
- oil on wood
- Dimensions
- 123.8 × 83.2 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1854
- Inventory number
- NG251
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Susan Foister, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The German Paintings before 1800’, London 2024; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Exhibition history
-
2014Strange Beauty: Masters of the German RenaissanceThe National Gallery (London)19 February 2014 - 11 May 2014
Bibliography
-
1959Levey, Michael, National Gallery Catalogues: The German Schools, London 1959
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
-
2024S. Foister, National Gallery Catalogues: The German Paintings before 1800, 2 vols, London 2024
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
Images
About the series: Two Shutters from the Werden Altarpiece

Overview
These paintings once formed the shutters of an altarpiece made for the Benedictine abbey at Werden, near Cologne in Germany. The shutters were decorated on both sides, and could be closed to protect the central part of the altarpiece, which has not been traced.
The inner and outer faces have been separated, creating four panels out of two. The inner faces, which would have been visible when the shutters were open, show events from the life of Saint Hubert. The outer faces each show four standing saints, including Saint Hubert and Saint Benedict, as well as other members of the Benedictine Order.