Triptych Madonna and Child with Saints Catherine and Barbara

The Master of the Legend of the Magdalene painted this triptych of the Madonna and Child with Saints Catherine and Barbara around 1500 in Brussels. Named after panels depicting Mary Magdalene's legend, this master was among the most refined painters active in Brussels. The popular female saints flank the Virgin in standard devotional arrangement. The oil medium allowed for rich tonal transitions and glazed layers of color that created luminous depth impossible with the older tempera technique. Such devotional panels served both liturgical contexts in churches and chapels and private devotional use in the homes of wealthy families who maintained personal altars and oratories.

Oil on panel in triptych format with refined Brussels technique and luminous coloring. The three female sacred figures are rendered with the elegance and decorative detail characteristic of this master.