A Bishop Saint, perhaps Saint Augustine
- Artist: Marco Zoppo
- Date: probably about 1468
- Medium: egg tempera on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Bishop Saint, perhaps Saint Augustine" by Marco Zoppo. Painted in Italy during the 15th century, this work showcases the artist's skill in capturing the subtleties of texture and colour.
Notice how the folds of the bishop's robes appear soft and delicate, like silk. In reality, these robes would have been made from thick textiles, but Zoppo has depicted them with a sense of elegance and refinement. The use of pastel colours - the cope is a dusky grape colour while the book is pale sky blue - adds to this effect.
The artist's attention to detail extends not just to the clothing, but also to the bishop's calm concentration. His eyes are cast downward in thought, as if lost in contemplation. The overall delicacy of the painting is typical of Zoppo's style, and reflects his ability to capture the subtleties of human emotion.
This panel likely formed part of a larger altarpiece, made up of multiple panels. It would have been viewed from below, which explains why we can see the underside of the book. The saint has been identified as Augustine, partly due to the fact that the church in Venice where this painting was found had strong ties to the Augustinian order.
See it in person
A Bishop Saint, perhaps Saint Augustine hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
