St. Mark and St. Thomas

Fernando Gallego painted these figures of Saints Mark and Thomas around 1488 for a Castilian altarpiece. Apostle series were standard components of Spanish retablos, occupying upper registers or side panels. Gallego's apostle figures display the monumental, somewhat austere character that distinguishes his religious imagery. This work belongs to the Early Renaissance, the transformative period in European art when painters first applied mathematical perspective, naturalistic figure modeling, and archaeological interest in antiquity to the inherited traditions of medieval devotional painting. The tension between Gothic grace and Renaissance structure gives art of this period a distinctive energy.

Oil on panel with strong, individualized characterizations of the two saints. Gallego's bold drawing and limited but intense palette give the figures a commanding physical presence.