Artwork
The delivery of the False Message by the Devil (Legend of St Cosmas and Damian)
The delivery of the False Message by the Devil (Legend of St Cosmas and Damian) is an unspecified painting by Meister der Legendenszenen. It is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work titled *The Delivery of the False Message by the Devil (Legend of St Cosmas and Damian)* is a panel painting attributed to the anonymous master known as Meister der Legendenszenen. Executed in the late medieval period, it is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and illustrates a moment from the hagiographic narrative of the twin saints.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a solemn woman in a pink gown and white veil extending a folded note toward a demonic figure. The devil, identifiable by horns and a yellow mantle, reaches to seize the paper, suggesting the transmission of a deceitful message that threatens the saints’ mission. The interaction underscores themes of temptation, falsehood, and the moral vigilance required of holy figures.
Technique & Style
Rendered in tempera on wood, the painting displays the crisp linearity and vivid coloration typical of the Meister der Legendenszenen’s workshop. Architectural elements—a tiled floor and a central column—provide a shallow spatial setting, while the figures are delineated with clear contours and expressive gestures, emphasizing narrative clarity over naturalistic depth.
History & Provenance
The panel entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the early twentieth century, having previously been part of a private Austrian collection. Its attribution to the Meister der Legendenszenen rests on stylistic parallels with other documented legend cycles, though the artist’s identity remains unknown.
Context
The scene derives from the medieval legend of Saints Cosmas and Damian, who were said to have been tested by a devil’s false messenger. Such narrative episodes were popular in devotional art, serving as visual sermons that warned viewers against deceit and reinforced the saints’ exemplary steadfastness.
Artist & collection
Artist
This painter made small, detailed scenes from old saint stories in the 1400s. Their brush filled tiny panels with crowd scenes and miracles—like *A Man Commands his Wife to St Cosmas and Damian* where a husband points…
Kirchenväteraltar, Flügelaußenseite: Der Teufel weist dem hl. Augustinus das Buch der Laster vor
The presentation of Mary in the temple
Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel
The Tax Collector and His Wife
The Annunciation
The Queen of Sheba before Solomon
Christ Presented to the People
Der hl. Veit entsagt den Freuden der Welt
The Annunciation
Tempelgang Mariens
Zurückweisung des Opfers Joachims und Annas
Saint Peter Martyr Exorcizing a Woman Possessed by a Devil