Altarpiece of Saint Bartholomew (Polittico di San Bartolomeo)
Painting on panel, polyptych with original carved architectural frame • Taddeo di Bartolo
Style & Movement
International Gothic / Sienese School
Medium & Technique
Egg tempera and gold leaf on wood panel; includes punchwork (bulinatura) on halos and sgraffito techniques on the textiles
Creation Period
Circa 1401
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 250 x 300 cm; Polyptych format comprising a central gabled panel and lateral tiered panels with a predella.
Subject Description
The central panel depicts Saint Bartholomew enthroned, holding his attribute, the flaying knife. Side panels show narrative scenes from his life, including his preaching, the casting out of demons, his martyrdom by flaying, and his eventual beheading. The predella below features smaller panels including a Crucifixion.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent/Very Good; the gold ground remains vibrant and the structural integrity of the complex Gothic frame is well-preserved.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000,000 - $8,000,000 (Valuation based on museum-grade Sienese gold-ground altarpieces of this scale and completeness).
Auction Estimate
$4,000,000 - $6,000,000
Provenance History
Commissioned for the Church of San Bartolomeo a Monteoliveto in San Gimignano, Italy; currently housed in the Museo Civico of San Gimignano.
Art Historical Significance
Taddeo di Bartolo was the preeminent Sienese painter of his generation. This work is a premier example of his mature style, blending the elegance of Simone Martini with a more monumental, three-dimensional approach to figures that prefigures the Renaissance.
Notable Features
Features an exceptionally fine carved and gilded frame with twisted columns (solomonic columns) and intricate inscriptions at the base naming the saint and likely donors.
Condition Issues
Minor stable vertical cracks in the wood panels; some localized rubbing of the gold leaf on the frame edges; old restorations visible in the dark pigment of the saint's robes.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (45-55% RH) to prevent further wood movement; specialized UV-filtered lighting; periodic monitoring of the wood for pest activity.