Artwork
Saint Veronica
Saint Veronica is a paint painting by Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1490, Saint Veronica is an oil painting attributed to the anonymous Master of the Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece, an Early Netherlandish painter active in Cologne from the late 15th to early 16th century. The work belongs to the religious genre and is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a solemn woman, dressed in a dark gown and light‑colored headscarf, holding a white cloth that bears the likeness of a bearded man’s head. The figure’s gaze is directed downward toward the cloth, suggesting contemplation of the miraculous imprint traditionally associated with Saint Veronica’s veil.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on panel, the painting displays the precise detailing and muted palette characteristic of early German Renaissance art. The artist employs a dark, flat background that isolates the figure, while subtle modeling of folds and facial features reflects the influence of Netherlandish realism combined with a personal stylistic vocabulary.
History & Provenance
The work was produced during the artist’s active period between 1475 and 1510, a time when Cologne served as a hub for Northern Renaissance production. After changing hands among private collections, the painting entered the Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s holdings, where it remains on display as a representative example of the Master’s oeuvre.
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.
Saint Bartholomew Altarpiece: Saint John the Evangelist and Margaret
The Adoration of the Magi
Virgin and Child with Saint Anne
Saint James the Great of Compostella
The Descent from the Cross
The Holy Family
Death of Mary
The Meeting of the Three Kings, with David and Isaiah (recto); The Assumption of the Virgin (verso)
