ARTWORKS

A Bishop Saint, perhaps Saint Augustine

Marco Zoppo (c.1432–1478)

The National Gallery, London

A Bishop Saint, perhaps Saint Augustine

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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This young, contemplative saint dressed as a bishop has been identified as Saint Augustine, the influential theologian and philosopher who was Bishop of Hippo (in north Africa) in the fourth century. The folds of the draperies he wears are so soft and light that they appear to be made of a very fine weight silk. Bishop’s robes would actually have been made from thick textiles, in reality appearing far more rigid. This delicacy, which extends to the saint’s calm concentration, was typical of Zoppo’s painting.

The painting formed the uppermost part of an altarpiece made of many panels (a polyptych), and as it would have been viewed from below, it makes sense that we can see the underside of the book. It was probably from the altarpiece described in 1581 in the church of Santa Giustina, Venice, signed by Zoppo and dated 1468.

The National Gallery, London

London

Read more on The National Gallery, London
Title

A Bishop Saint, perhaps Saint Augustine

Date

probably about 1468

Medium

Tempera on wood

Measurements

H 49.5 x W 28.6 cm

Accession number

NG3541

Acquisition method

Presented by Alfred de Pass, 1920

Work type

Painting

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The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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Artist or maker

Marco Zoppo

c.1432–1478

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