Predella with Annunciation and Scenes from the Lives of Four Saints

Executed in tempera on panel, the painting employs a restrained palette of browns, grays and muted earth tones. Figures are rendered in the late‑Gothic style typical of the Marche region, with detailed costumes and intricate architectural backdrops. The fine brushwork reveals careful attention to texture in both fabric and stone.

The panel was painted by the Ancona‑born artist Nicola di Maestro Antonio, active in the late 15th century. After serving its liturgical function, the work entered the art market in the 19th century and was acquired by the Brooklyn Museum, where it remains part of the European paintings collection.

Predellas were commonly used to complement larger altarpieces, providing narrative depth beneath the main image. In the late 1400s, such panels often combined biblical scenes with local saintly legends, reflecting both universal Christian themes and regional devotional practices.