Saint John the Evangelist with Christ taking leave of the Virgin, between Saints Peter and James the Less

Lippo di Benivieni, a lesser-known Florentine painter active in the early 14th century, created this complex panel combining Saint John the Evangelist with the scene of Christ taking leave of the Virgin, flanked by Saints Peter and James the Less. The work reflects the rich production of devotional panels in early Trecento Florence, where numerous workshops beyond Giotto's circle served the demands of churches, confraternities, and private patrons.

Executed in egg tempera and gold leaf on panel, the multi-figure composition demonstrates the workmanlike competence of Florentine Gothic painting outside the major masters' orbit. The linear drapery style and decorative gold tooling follow established workshop conventions, with figural proportions that blend Giottesque volume with older Byzantine-derived formality.