Artwork
Saint Jerome (obeverse); Saint Nicholas of Tolentino (reverse)
Saint Jerome (obeverse); Saint Nicholas of Tolentino (reverse) is an unspecified painting by Lippo d'Andrea. It dates from 1412 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Kraków. Created in 1412, this double‑sided panel presents two saints in profile, each rendered against a gold field and framed by a wooden border.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1412, this double‑sided panel presents two saints in profile, each rendered against a gold field and framed by a wooden border. One side shows a figure in red robes, a red hat and cape, holding an open book; the opposite side portrays another saint. The composition reflects the devotional purpose of portable altarpieces in early 15th‑century Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The obverse depicts Saint Jerome, traditionally shown as a scholarly hermit, his serious expression and open manuscript emphasizing his role as translator of the Bible. The reverse features Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, a 13th‑century Italian holy man, whose inclusion would have appealed to patrons seeking intercession for the sick and travelers.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on panel, the work employs the bright, flat coloration typical of the Florentine Gothic style. The gold background provides a luminous, non‑spatial setting, while the linear detailing of the garments and facial features demonstrates the artist’s attention to decorative pattern and narrative clarity.
History & Provenance
The panel is attributed to Lippo d’Andrea, a Florentine painter active in the early 1400s who was recorded as a member of the Compagnia di San Luca by 1411 and participated in fresco projects in Prato. Formerly identified as the work of a “Pseudo‑Ambrogio di Baldese,” it now resides in the National Museum in Kraków.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lippo d'Andrea di Lippo (1370/1371 - before 1451) was a Florentine painter, formerly known as Pseudo-Ambrogio di Baldese.
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