“St. Andrew and St. Bernardino,” created by Piero della Francesca between 1444 and 1464, is an exquisite example of Early Renaissance art. The artwork, rendered in oil, tempera, and on panel, exemplifies the artist’s mastery and religious devotion. It is a part of the Polyptych of the Misericordia series and can be viewed at the Museo Civico di Sansepolcro in Sansepolcro, Italy. The dimensions of the piece are 108 x 90 cm.
In the artwork, two male religious figures are depicted with distinct halos behind their heads, identifying them as saints. The figure on the left, resembling St. Andrew, is an elderly man with a long white beard, donned in a voluminous dark robe with a deep red drape. He holds a red codex in his left hand, suggestive of a religious text. The right figure, presumed to be St. Bernardino, is bald and dressed in a simple grey monastic habit, characteristic of the Franciscan order. He holds a book in his left hand and gestures with his right. Both figures stand barefoot against a golden mosaic-like background, symbolizing their holy status.
