Photo of collection object Saint Lawrence Liberates Souls from Purgatory
Lorenzo di Niccolò. Saint Lawrence Liberates Souls from Purgatory, ca. 1412. Tempera and tooled gold on poplar panel, 13 5/16 x 26 5/8 in. (33.8 x 67.6 cm) Frame: 16 x 26 5/8 in. (40.6 x 67.6 cm). Gift of A. Augustus Healy, 03.75. No known copyright restrictions.

Saint Lawrence Liberates Souls from Purgatory

ca. 1412

Lorenzo di Niccolò

Italian, Florentine, documented 1393-1412

European Art

A horizontal panel that supports the main altarpiece, a predella often presents narrative scenes from the life of the saint or holy figure who is represented in the main image above it. In this example, Lorenzo illustrates the life of Saint Lawrence, a third-century deacon of the Catholic Church and an early martyr.

At an undetermined time and for reasons that remain unclear, this predella was removed from its altarpiece and cut into several pieces. Scholars have reconstructed the approximate sequence, following art-historical precedent, and arranged the scenes according to the devotional function of the predella rather than providing a strict chronology of events. This ordering places the widest panel—the depiction of the martyred Lawrence liberating the souls in Purgatory—as the central scene in the legend of the saint. During the early Renaissance, the Catholic faithful frequently invoked Lawrence to intercede for these penitent souls.

The arrangement of the panels is asymmetrical—with two scenes to the left of the central panel and three to its right—suggesting that an episode may be missing. With the exception of the martyrdom scene, Lorenzo consistently represents the saint with a halo, tonsured head, and pink robe, making him instantly recognizable throughout.
Classification
Painting
Formatted Medium
Tempera and tooled gold on poplar panel
Locations
Place made: Italy
Dimensions
13 5/16 x 26 5/8 in. (33.8 x 67.6 cm) Frame: 16 x 26 5/8 in. (40.6 x 67.6 cm)
Departments
European Art
Accession Number
03.75
Credit Line
Gift of A. Augustus Healy
Rights Statement
No known copyright restrictions
Dominant Colors

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