St Bartholomew

This Saint Bartholomew from 1430 depicts one of the twelve apostles, traditionally shown with the knife of his martyrdom. Giovanni di Paolo produced numerous single-saint panels throughout his career for altarpiece laterals and independent devotional use in Sienese churches and private collections Oil on canvas, increasingly preferred over panel in the sixteenth century, offered greater flexibility for large-scale compositions The work is now in the collection of Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.

The saint is rendered with Giovanni di Paolo's distinctive facial type and strong linear modeling, standing against the gold ground that remained standard in Sienese panel painting.