Abner's Messenger before David (?); The Queen of Sheba Bringing Gifts to Solomon; (The Annunciation, on the reverse)

Executed in 1480, this portrait exemplifies the portrait tradition that Master of the Legend of Saint Barbara contributed to within the Early Renaissance. Painted during the flourishing of the Early Renaissance, the work balances individual likeness with the idealized presentation expected by fifteenth-century patrons. Created at the threshold of the High Renaissance, this work belongs to a generation that had fully mastered perspective, anatomy, and oil technique, setting the stage for Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo.

Tempera technique, reflecting earlier traditions, the portrait demonstrates Master of the Legend of Saint Barbara's command of skilled technique and careful observation. The careful modeling of the face reveals close study of the sitter's physiognomy, while the treatment of costume and setting projects appropriate social standing.