Saint Paul
1491 - 1499. Tempera on twill / twill weave canvas.Room 057B
This is one of a group of four tempera paintings on canvas twill probably from the church of Santo Tomás in Avila. The four are thematically grouped in two pairs, one with depictions of saints -Saint Peter (P124) and the present Saint Paul- and the other, an Adoration of the First Magus (P125) and Two Magi (P126). The four works have similar compositions, with Renaissance structures and fundamentally Gothic decoration.
Here, Saint Paul is depicted in a broad niche that appears to open in the middle of a structured wall. Its low viewpoint follows models by Andrea Mantegna and allows us to see the ceiling’s double-coffered barrel vault. The broad base on which the saint’s feet rest suggests that Berruguete sought to simulate polychrome statues placed at a certain height in real wall openings. That explains the figure’s monumental character, straight torso and visible attributes.
The structure designed by Berruguete resembles the doorway of some churches from his time, although most had smooth surfaces covered with coats of arms. Here, the artist arranges medallions with profiles of male busts and laurel columns that allude to triumph, much like roman medals.
