Tre Santi. San Vincenzo, Santa Caterina d’Alessandria e Sant’Antonio da Padova 

Antoniazzo Romano painted these three saints – Vincent, Catherine of Alexandria, and Anthony of Padua – in the late 15th or early 16th century, probably in Rome, where he was based. The presence of saints like these tells us something about the social function of art at this time. A painting was an aid to devotion and these saints were believed to intercede on behalf of the believer. Notice how each saint holds attributes which allow for immediate identification: Catherine, in the centre, holds a palm frond indicating her martyrdom, and a spiked wheel, the instrument of her torture. Although it may seem formulaic to us now, this kind of painting played a vital role in society then, reinforcing religious belief and offering reassurance in an uncertain world. To understand this function properly, the art historian consults devotional literature and considers the place of the painting within the religious institutions of the time. Only then can we appreciate its importance.