The Twelve Apostles: Saints Bartholomew, Andrew, Matthew, James the Greater, Thaddeus, Philip, James the Lesser, Simon, Peter, Paul, Thomas, and John 1481 - 1522

These twelve small paintings of the Apostles are the work of Ambrogio Bergognone, an artist working in Italy in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Bergognone was deeply influenced by the religious and artistic fervor of his time. These panels reflect a culture grappling with the intersection of faith and power. Commissioned during a period of intense religious devotion, the paintings are imbued with the visual language of the church, and also the realities of the Italian Renaissance. They offer more than just a rendering of holy figures; they reflect the evolving role of the church in everyday life. Each apostle is depicted with individual attributes – Saint Bartholomew, for example, carries the knife of his martyrdom. Bergognone presents them with a quiet dignity, inviting viewers to consider their humanity, and their individual stories. The paintings capture the tension between spiritual ideals, and lived experience.