Artwork
Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece: Saint John the Evangelist and Margaret
Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece: Saint John the Evangelist and Margaret is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece. It dates from 1503 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1503, this oil painting is attributed to the anonymous Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece, an Early Netherlandish artist who worked in Cologne from the late 15th to early 16th century. The work belongs to the Northern Renaissance and is currently displayed in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents two saints standing side by side: John the Evangelist on the left, identifiable by his red robe and the golden chalice he holds, and Margaret the Virgin on the right, dressed in elaborate blue‑green attire with a red sash. Margaret’s figure includes a curious green monster’s head emerging from beneath her skirt, while she appears in a posture of prayer, suggesting a narrative of steadfast faith.
Technique & Style
The painter employs a tactile impasto in the folds of the red garment, giving the fabric a three‑dimensional quality that invites visual touch. A shimmering gold background, rendered with fine, almost woven detail, creates a luminous setting typical of Northern Renaissance surface treatment, while the overall composition balances realism with symbolic ornamentation.
History & Provenance
The altarpiece was produced during the artist’s active period in Cologne, roughly between 1475 and 1510, and later entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of early German painting.
Context
The work reflects the devotional practices of the early 1500s in the Holy Roman Empire, where saints were frequently depicted together to encourage intercessory prayer. The inclusion of Margaret, a virgin martyr, alongside the evangelist underscores themes of purity and witness that were central to contemporary religious art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece
The Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece (sometimes called the Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altar) was an Early Netherlandish painter active in Germany, mostly Cologne, between 1475/1480 and 1510.
