Altarpiece of Saints Thomas and Matthias

Van Orley employed the rich, layered glazing typical of Northern Renaissance oil painting, achieving deep, saturated hues and subtle tonal transitions. The architectural backdrop, rendered in precise linear perspective, reflects his study of Italian models, particularly Raphael, despite his never having visited Italy. The detailed rendering of textiles and metalwork demonstrates his Flemish training in meticulous surface treatment.

Bernard van Orley, known also for tapestry and stained‑glass designs, produced the altarpiece during a period when Brussels was a vibrant artistic hub. After remaining in private or ecclesiastical collections for several centuries, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it has been part of the museum’s Northern Renaissance holdings since the early twentieth century.