Artwork
Set of 4 panels: Saint Francis, Saint Lawrence, Saint Jerome, Saint Benedict
Set of 4 panels: Saint Francis, Saint Lawrence, Saint Jerome, Saint Benedict is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Maso da San Friano. It dates from 1561 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
Around 1561 the Florentine painter Maso da San Friano completed a quartet of devotional panels portraying Saints Francis, Lawrence, Jerome and Benedict. Executed in the late‑Mannerist style, the works were finished in his native region before his death a decade later. All four panels are presently part of the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
Each panel focuses on a single saint, rendered in a kneeling pose that emphasizes humility and prayer. The figures are identified by traditional attributes: a white habit and a staff for Francis, a yellow cap and a red book for Jerome, and similar iconography for Lawrence and Benedict. The compositions invite contemplation of the saints’ spiritual virtues.
Technique & Style
Maso employs the elongated forms and refined coloration typical of mid‑sixteenth‑century Mannerism. The figures are set against a clear blue sky and a gently rolling green hill, creating a simple yet harmonious backdrop. Fine brushwork delineates the fabrics and accessories, while the restrained palette underscores the devotional tone.
History & Provenance
After their creation in the Florentine area, the panels entered private collections before being acquired by the National Gallery of Ireland in the twentieth century. Their survival as a complete set is unusual, allowing scholars to study Maso’s consistent approach across multiple saints.
Context
The work belongs to a period when Florentine artists were adapting High Renaissance ideals to a more expressive, mannered language. Maso da San Friano, a lesser‑known figure of this era, contributed to the ongoing tradition of saintly portraiture that served both liturgical and private devotional purposes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Maso da San Friano (1536–1571) was an Italian painter active in Florence. His real name was Tomaso D'Antonio Manzuoli. He was born in San Friano and died in Florence.
