Table of Saints John. Central pannel

Bernat Martorell's treatment of this sacred subject in 1430 exemplifies the enduring importance of religious painting in the Early Renaissance. Bernat Martorell brings distinctive artistic vision to the sacred narrative, creating a work that served both devotional and artistic purposes in fifteenth-century Spanish (Catalan) culture. This was a period of revolutionary change in European art, as painters in Florence and the Low Countries began breaking with medieval conventions to pursue naturalistic representation.

Bernat Martorell employs skilled technique and careful observation to convey the spiritual gravity of the subject. The treatment of the figures shows careful study of earlier masters, while the palette and lighting create the devotional atmosphere the subject demands.