Saint Bartholomew 1317 - 1319

Simone Martini painted this panel of Saint Bartholomew with tempera and gold on wood, in the early 14th century. The dominant visual experience here is one of serene formality. Bartholomew is presented within a symmetrical composition, his figure solid and frontal against a shimmering gold background. The delicate lines of his halo and the subtle folds of his drapery create a visual harmony, while the muted color palette evokes a sense of contemplative calm. Martini’s precise and deliberate application of paint emphasizes the symbolic over the naturalistic. The knife and the book act as signs, embedding him within a complex semiotic system of religious meaning. The surface of the painting, meticulously crafted and adorned with gold leaf, further removes the image from the everyday, elevating it to the realm of the divine. Consider how Martini uses these formal elements—line, color, and composition—to convey not just an image of a saint, but a complex symbol of faith. This panel doesn't just represent Saint Bartholomew; it invites us to consider the structural underpinnings of belief itself.