Susanna and the Elders in the Garden, and the Trial of Susanna before the Elders

Tempera paint was applied with fine brushwork to create crisp details in fabric, foliage, and facial expressions. The composition divides the panel horizontally: the garden scene in the foreground, the trial in the background, linked by architectural elements. Color is restrained but purposeful, using red and blue to draw attention to Susanna’s figure.

The painting entered the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection in the early 20th century. Its attribution to the Master of Apollo and Daphne—named for another work in the same style—rests on stylistic comparisons with a small group of anonymous panels from northern Italy. No earlier documentation of its ownership is known.

Created during a period when biblical narratives were commonly rendered in devotional art, this work reflects the popularity of Susanna’s story in northern Italian painting. Its dual-scene format aligns with contemporary practices that sought to condense complex tales into single, legible compositions for private devotion or civic display.

Though the artist’s identity remains obscure, this painting contributes to the understanding of regional Renaissance practices that prioritized narrative clarity over naturalism. It stands as an example of how religious stories were visually adapted to reinforce moral and social values in early 16th-century Italy.