A Bishop Saint, perhaps Saint Augustine

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

This young, contemplative saint dressed as a bishop has been identified as Saint Augustine, the influential theologian and philosopher who was Bishop of Hippo (in north Africa) in the fourth century. The folds of the draperies he wears are so soft and light that they appear to be made of a very fine weight silk. Bishop's robes would actually have been made from thick textiles, in reality appearing far more rigid. This delicacy, which extends to the saint's calm concentration, was typical of Zoppo's painting.The painting formed the uppermost part of an altarpiece made of many panels (a polyptych), and as it would have been viewed from below, it makes sense that we can see the underside of the book. It was probably from the altarpiece described in 1581 in the church of Santa Giustina, Venice, signed by Zoppo and dated 1468.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

A Bishop Saint, perhaps Saint Augustine

Date

probably about 1468

Medium

Tempera on wood

Measurements

H 49.5 x W 28.6 cm

Accession number

NG3541

Acquisition method

Presented by Alfred de Pass, 1920

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

View venue