The “Polyptych of St. Luke” is an oil on panel artwork by the Early Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna, completed between 1453 and 1455. The painting measures 230 x 177 cm and is categorized as a religious painting. It is currently housed in the Palazzo Brera, Milan, Italy.
The painting is a multi-paneled altarpiece that features a series of figures within Gothic-style architectural framings, which are typical of the time. The central panel likely features St. Luke seated, engaged in the act of painting or writing, accompanied by other saints in the adjacent panels. These saints are depicted in a range of poses, some reading, and others holding attributes that signify their identity and martyrdom.
Each figure is rendered with a solemn gravitas, and Mantegna’s characteristic attention to detail can be seen in the drapery of the clothes, the precise lines of the architecture, and the lifelike expressions of the saints. This polyptych reflects the aesthetic of the Early Renaissance with its emphasis on humanism, depicted through the individual characterization of the saints, and a deepened understanding of perspective and space. The use of oil paint allows for rich, deep colors and fine gradations of tone, contributing to a sense of realism and three-dimensionality.
