Artwork
São Cosme, São Tomé e São Damião

São Cosme, São Tomé e São Damião is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Francisco Henriques. It dates from 1508 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Ancient Art.
About this work
Overview
São Cosme, São Tomé e São Damião is a 1508 oil painting by Francisco Henriques, a Flemish artist active in Portugal during the early 16th century.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays three saints: Cosmas, Damian (often depicted together as twin physician saints), and Thomas the Apostle, set within an interior space. Their distinct robes (red over black, yellow under black, and black with a white collar) visually differentiate the figures.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work reflects Northern European artistic influences on Iberian art during the early Renaissance. Notable compositional elements include a tiled floor in the foreground and a visible cityscape through an arched window in the background.
History & Provenance
Created in 1508, the painting is now part of the collection at the National Museum of Ancient Art.
Context
This work exemplifies the cultural exchange between Flemish and Portuguese artistic traditions during the early 16th century, with Henriques adapting his Bruges training to Iberian patronage.
Legacy
As a piece by a lesser-known but influential figure of the period, it contributes to the understanding of early Renaissance art's dissemination across European regions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco Henriques (died 1518) was a Flemish Renaissance painter active in Portugal in the early 16th century.



















