A Female Saint
- Artist: Giorgio Schiavone
- Date: probably about 1456-61
- Medium: egg tempera on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Female Saint" painted in the Italian north by Giorgio Schiavone. The subject of this painting is a mature woman, as indicated by her wrinkled skin. She's dressed in modest clothing, but with some luxurious touches - notice the rich purple and green cloak edged with gold. This suggests that she may be a saint who has reached heaven. In fact, it's been suggested that she might represent Saint Dorothy, although this is uncertain.
The book she holds is quite ornate, with gilded fore-edges, a red binding, and metal bosses and clasps. It's similar to another book held by Saint Bernardino in another panel from the same altarpiece. This painting formed part of a large polyptych, painted for the funerary chapel of the wealthy Roberti family in Padua between 1456 and 1461.
The artist has used egg tempera on wood, creating a level of detail that's quite remarkable given the technique. You can see the subtle texture of the wood beneath the paint, which adds to the overall sense of depth and realism.
See it in person
A Female Saint 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.
