Artwork
Saint Bartholomew Exorcising

Saint Bartholomew Exorcising is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Unknown. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. The work depicts a dramatic episode set in an open courtyard.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts a dramatic episode set in an open courtyard. Central to the composition is a figure in a red garment, haloed, extending a hand toward a kneeling, rope‑bound man. Surrounding onlookers in varied attire observe the confrontation, while a modest building with a tiled roof and a small window recedes in the background, heightening the scene’s tension.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is identified as Saint Bartholomew, portrayed in the act of exorcising a possessed individual. The bound kneeler represents the afflicted, and the surrounding witnesses suggest a communal response to the miracle, underscoring themes of faith, divine intervention, and the struggle between sanctity and demonic forces.
Technique & Style
The painter employs a chiaroscuro approach, contrasting illuminated areas—particularly the haloed saint and the central figures—with deep shadows that model the surrounding crowd and architecture. This manipulation of light and dark creates a three‑dimensional effect and intensifies the emotional charge of the moment.
History & Provenance
Details regarding the artwork’s date, creator, and ownership trail are not provided in the source material, limiting the ability to trace its historical journey or original commission.
Artist & collection



















