Three scenes from the life of a Bishop Saint,
tempera on panel, gold ground, 78 x 63.5 cm (ordination), 76.5 x 62.5 cm (three figures saved from execution), 77 x 62 cm (death), framed, a set of three (3)

Provenance:
Private collection, Austria

These three panels probably belonged to a retablo, and show stylistic affinities to late fifteenth century painting in Catalonia. One of the leading Catalan artists of this period was Jaume Huguet (circa 1415 – before 1492), who merged together Flemish and Italian influences with local conventions. The composition of the panel representing the Ordination of the Saint appears to be stylistically similar to Huguet’s Ordination of Saint Augustin, originally part of an altarpiece and now conserved in the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, Barcelona (inv. no. 024140-000).

It is not possible to identify the represented saint with the figure of Saint Dionysius, as suggested by old inscriptions on the back of the panels, in that this Bishop Saint is usually represented holding his own head after his martyrdom. The scene showing three figures saved from execution could refer to Saint Nicholas of Bari, the fourth century bishop of Mira. According to the legend, Saint Nicholas bravely prevented the executions of three innocent soldiers who were condemned to death by the corrupt prefect Eustathios. The same scene is illustrated by Mariotto di Nardo in a panel conserved in the Pinacoteca Vaticana (inv. no. 97).