Saint Adrian

The Master of 1518 painted this Saint Adrian around 1518, depicting the early Christian martyr who was a Roman officer converted to Christianity after witnessing the steadfastness of Christian prisoners. Adrian is usually depicted with armor and the anvil on which his limbs were severed—combining his military identity with the instrument of his martyrdom—and the Master of 1518 brings the Antwerp Mannerist fondness for elaborate surface detail to the saint's gleaming armor. Saint Adrian was the patron saint of soldiers and butchers, and his cult was strong in the Flemish-speaking Netherlands where his relics were venerated. The anonymous master's confident figure construction and richly decorated armor reflect the high technical standards of Antwerp's leading workshops.

The panel shows the Antwerp Mannerist style with the ornamental richness and elaborate armor details characteristic of this workshop's production.