St. Augustine

Saint Augustine appears in scholarly garb in this 1486 panel at the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo. Crivelli's saints are characterized with the detailed specificity of portraits, each given distinctive features, attributes, and expressions that individualize them within the conventions of sacred art. The painting's journey to Japan reflects the global dispersal of Italian Renaissance paintings through twentieth-century collecting. Crivelli's extraordinary ornamental invention—the garlands of fruit and vegetables, the pearled borders, the gold punchwork—reflects his awareness of the decorative arts and goldsmithing traditions of the Adriatic region that shaped his patrons' taste.

Augustine is presented with the book and bishop's mitre that identify him, rendered with Crivelli's characteristic precision. The saint's face shows the lined, characterful features that distinguish Crivelli's older male figures. Rich textile patterns in the vestments demonstrate his extraordinary ability to render fabric surfaces with almost tactile conviction.