Two saints from the Quaratesi Polyptych: St. Mary Magdalen and St. Nicholas 1425

Gentile da Fabriano painted these two panels of the Quaratesi Polyptych, depicting St. Mary Magdalen and St. Nicholas, in tempera on wood. The eye is immediately drawn to the intricate patterning and verticality which structures each panel. The pointed arches, framing each saint, mirror their elongated forms and the upward thrust of their figures. Notice how color is used to distinguish the figures: the somber, weighty drapery of St. Mary Magdalen contrasts with the opulent, golden vestments of St. Nicholas. This contrast serves not only to differentiate the saints but also to highlight the symbolic roles they play within the spiritual narrative of the polyptych. Da Fabriano uses line and ornamentation to create a sense of depth and richness within a relatively confined space. The gold leaf, meticulously applied, operates almost as a field of pure surface, flattening the pictorial space and emphasizing the symbolic nature of the depicted figures. It is this tension between surface and depth, materiality and symbolism, that defines the aesthetic and semiotic power of these panels. The form invites us to consider the broader cultural codes and spiritual values that shaped its creation and reception.