Cenni di Francesco di Ser Cenni
The Coronation of the Virgin with Saints: Detail, saints on the right

1390s
Tempera and gold leaf on panel
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

All the saints are identified by inscriptions in their halos. In the front row, left to right, are Saints John the Evangelist, Lawrence, and Julian. John the Evangelist corresponds to John the Baptist in the front row of the saints on the left. He holds one of the New Testament works he was believed to have written. St. Stephen wears the dalmatic associated with the office of deacon. At his right foot is a small gridiron, his attribute. St. Julian holds his attribute, a wrapped sword.

Behind them, corresponding to Saints Ambrose and Zenobius on the left side are two figures with white mitres and dark faces: St. Bernard on the left and possibly St. Nicholas on the right. Neither carries an attribute, although Bernard does wear a cowl that identifies him as a monk. It was unusual but not unheard of for an abbot to have permission to wear a mitre.

Behind St. Bernard are Saints Anthony Abbot (tau-topped staff), St. Lucy, and in the back St. Mary Magdalene with her ointment jar.

Behind the bishop on the right are Saints John Gualbert and Catherine of Alexandria, with St. Agnes behind them. John Gualbert is another Florentine saint, founder of the Vallombrosan order. His name is somewhat garbled on his halo, but the identification can be made on the basis of the habit, the characteristic staff, and the Florentine connection. In the tight space available, the artist made the clever choice of having Catherine's wheel peek out from behind her mantle. St. Agnes is identified only by the inscription on her halo. Instead of a lamb, her usual attribute, the artist or someone else has painted a hand cross over her portrait and halo.

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Read more about images of Saints John the Evangelist, Lawrence, and Julian.
Read more about images of Saints Bernard of Clairvaux and Nicholas.
Read more about images of Saints Anthony Abbot, Lucy, and Mary Magdalene.
Read more about images of Saints John Gualbert, Catherine of Alexandria, and Agnes.

Photographed at the museum by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.